England may be left in a spin over the absence of bowling variety

Graeme Swann's case was not persuasive enough but surely there was a case for including Samit Patel?
Andrew Strauss, England captain
Andrew Strauss, the England captain, struggled in the field against South Africa at Headingley without a class spinner to call on. Photograph: Ed Sykes/Action Images

It came as a surprise when they actually did it. They may have tried to pass it off as a routine "horses for courses" manoeuvre but it was a more significant selection than that. Graeme Swann was hailed as the last piece in the jigsaw when he established himself in the England side in 2009. They have not contemplated dropping him since – until Thursday.

It probably took the compiler of the official programme by surprise as well. There is Swann on the front cover in celebratory mode after taking a wicket – in a previous series – alongside the caption "turning the tide". Inside is a big interview with the man often regarded as England's finest off-spinner since Jim Laker. There is no mention of the possibility of him being 12th man.

Instead, to prove how quickly stuff happens, Swann responds in the programme to the question: "What's the most impressive thing you've seen an England player do this summer?" "I think Ravi Bopara's batting," he replies. "Since he's come back from the winter he's looked in unbelievable form. I think he's been an absolute shining light for us, so I'm looking forward to seeing him for the rest of the summer." Bopara, too, was not playing.

The notion of playing four fast bowlers at Headingley must have come with a rush. Otherwise why did England not include Samit Patel in their squad just to give them the option of playing a batting spinner to provide some variety when or if the sun came out? Why was Swann fielding at second slip when they were doing their slip-catching practice on Tuesday?

In part the captain Andrew Strauss had put his faith in the weather forecasters, who spoke of deteriorating weather over the weekend. His decision was a rare vote of confidence in the Met Office. We all know what happens at Headingley when there is cloud cover and the England captain expected plenty of that. But he could not hide a few nerves after he had won the toss.

He chose to bowl as he was almost bound to do once he had selected his side. But immediately that decision was made the pitch inevitably looked a little browner, the sky a little bluer. Sod's Law appeared to be intervening. There followed an uncomfortable morning with Alastair Cook dropping a simple catch at second slip, Swann's position, and Steven Finn dead-balling.

Strauss would have known the history; if not, the analysts would have reminded him. The last time England began a Test without a spinner was at Headingley in 2003. They omitted Ashley Giles and played not four pacemen but five: Jimmy Anderson, Martin Bicknell, James Kirtley, Kabir Ali and Andrew Flintoff. England lost that match by 191 runs, albeit against a South African side which also omitted their spinner, Paul Adams.

After the toss Strauss attempted to soften the blow, suggesting that this was no slight upon Swann, but he was not at his most persuasive. A world-class spinner at the top of his game gets picked for every Test no matter what the location – or the weather forecast. Swann has not been on top of his game. The odd catch has gone astray; the runs have dried up and that right elbow is forever painful.

And what of his main function – the bowling? In fact at The Oval he bowled perfectly well. His duel with Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, was of the highest quality. Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis played him with restrained brilliance. But the magic was missing, which is not so surprising against such gifted batsmen.

Throughout his career Swann has maximised his assets and hidden his limitations adroitly. He has always lacked mystery; there is not and never will be a doosra in his armoury; sometimes his aggressive instincts make him expensive but this has usually been a price worth paying as he bowls wider of off-stump than most of his predecessors.

He has been able to overawe certain Test batsmen, particularly those from Pakistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka with the notable exception of Mahela Jayawardene. He has gobbled up left-handers. But the best Test sides and the best batsmen are not intimidated by orthodox off-spin, even if it is being propelled by Swann. Against Australia and India he averages 40 with the ball, against South Africa 38.

There is no disgrace in these figures. Overall his record for England is superb (188 wickets at 29). Swann remains an important part of the puzzle and England's best. But, however many one-liners he delivers over the next week, he will be jolted by his omission at Headingley; it is a harsh reminder that no one is indispensable. He will be hurt as well. But there is still plenty of time for the "turning of the tide".