England's Graeme Swann apologised for a "crass and offensive" comment on Thursday after he compared the third Ashes Test loss to Australia to being "raped".

The comment, made in a Facebook exchange with his brother and picked up by British newspapers, prompted outrage on social media and from rape charities.

Down and out: Graeme Swann has had an unhappy Ashes series. Credit:Reuters

"Sorry to anyone who was offended by my comments in the papers today. Crass and thoughtless of me in the extreme," the spin bowler said on his Twitter account.

He had posted the Facebook comment in response to his brother, Alec, who said he had enjoyed a night out seeing a band in Northampton.