Arthur Crabtree wrote:Still relevant to point out that Pietersen would have been useful in every Test England have played this year. Strauss rather opportunistically said England have moved on, in the flush of the Ashes win, but really, the batting hasn't. It's full of holes.
I'm not sure that "relevant" is the appropriate term to use , given that Pietersen seems to be irrevocably detached now from the England system. It is certainly not untrue to suggest he might have been handy in any of those home Tests ; but I suppose one should also consider which players would have been left out had he still been around , no ? Would Ballance have played in Cardiff , say ? Bell, at Edgbaston ? - or Bairstow at Trent Bridge ?
Granted the batting remains ...unsettled , to be charitable. But one might argue that "moving on" from Pietersen (albeit ,arguably, slightly premature) was a necessary step towards building the next solid batting lineup. A 2005 version of KP , mind , would be a very nice addition...