Graeme Swann denies criticising England team-mates

Graeme Swann has insisted that he wasn’t talking about his England team-mates when he claimed certain players are “up their own backsides”.

The 34-year-old spinner made the remarks in a media conference confirming his immediate retirement on Monday after a worrying loss of form during the current Ashes series in Australia.

Some people playing the game at the minute have no idea how far up their own backsides they are

Graeme Swann

Swann tweeted: “I wasn’t talking about the England dressing room or anyone in it.”

The England man had earlier said in his farewell media conference: “Some people playing the game at the minute have no idea how far up their own backsides they are.

“It will bite them one day and when it does I hope they look back and are embarrassed about how they carry on.”

Swann added that he treated playing for the England Test team like “a lottery win” after ending a decorated career with 255 wickets in 60 Tests.

“I hope my legacy is someone who always enjoyed it, who always played with a smile on his face, sometimes a snarl when the fielders mis-fielded,” Swann added.

“Since I got back in the England team, I’ve treated every day like a lottery win. It really annoys me when people take it for granted and get above their station, because they shouldn’t.

“It’s the most privileged thing any man can do.”

Swann claimed 104 wickets over the course of his career and in 2011 was the number one ranked ODI bowler. He was a key member of England’s T20 squad since making his debut in 2008 against New Zealand, helping England to the ICC World T20 title in 2010 and captaining the side three times in 2011.