Swann retires from England while on Ashes tour

MELBOURNE, Australia: England spinner Graeme Swann retired Sunday from international and first-class cricket while on the Ashes tour of Australia, just four days before the start of the fourth test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The 34-year-old Swann's retirement comes with England trailing 3-0 and already surrendering the urn to Australia.

"After a great deal of consideration I have decided to call it a day on my international and first class career," Swann said in a team statement.

"This decision has been very difficult seeing as the England team has been my family for seven years now, but I feel that now is the right time to step down."

After England lost the third test to Australia in Perth earlier this week, Swann was forced to apologize for making comments on Facebook in which he compared his team losing the Ashes series to rape.

Swann is quitting having played 60 tests since making his debut in 2008, taking 255 test wickets in the five years. But he has taken only seven wickets at an average of 80.00 during England's three test losses so far in Australia.

"With two games to go in Australia and then a fiercely competitive summer against Sri Lanka and India I feel that it is a great time for someone else to strap themselves in and hopefully enjoy the ride as much as I have," Swann said.

"I don't regret a single day of my career. Every high has been celebrated with verve and vigor and every low painfully accepted as a chance to learn and improve."

England team director Andy Flower said Swann made an "outstanding contribution" to the team.

"His commitment, competitive spirit and sense of humor have been recognized and admired by team mates and supporters alike and he has played a big part in England's success over the last five years," Flower said.

"The dressing room will be a very different place without Graeme's unique personality and I would like to wish him all the very best for the future."

Swann also played 79 one-day internationals for England, making his debut in 2000 at the age of 20 against South Africa in Bloemfontein.

He has claimed 104 ODI wickets and in 2011 was the No. 1-ranked one-day bowler.

He was a key member of England's Twenty20 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.