'Awful' bowling forced 'powerless' Swann to quit Test cricket during Ashes

Former England spinner Graeme Swann, who retired during the Ashes series in Australia, said he chose to walk away during because his bowling was awful and he felt powerless during matches.

Swann quit cricket after the third Test, describing the decision as the most sobering of his life, and added that it was a horrible feeling to come to terms with.

Swann had made the shock announcement in December 2013, quitting cricket with immediate effect, leaving England without its frontline spinner just days out from the Boxing Day Test.

The 34-year-old has had a horror Ashes series, taking just seven wickets at an average of 80 over the first three Tests, but despite his advanced age and poor form it was assumed the off-spinner would continue playing at least until the end of the series, the report said.

Swann gave his backing to captain Alastair Cook, saying not even legendary skipper Mike Brearley could have turned around a failing team.

Swann, England's sixth highest Test wicket-taker with 255, caused a major shock when he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket four days before the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.

Speaking on Radio 5 live, Swann said his performances in the first three Tests - he took seven wickets at an average of 80 - caused him to bring forward a departure he had planned for the end of the tour.

The 5-0 whitewash in Australia was only the third in England's history and statistically their worst ever Ashes tour, The BBC reports.