The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[shankycricket]

I notice someone mentioned Surrey workload. It may be that they will allow him to opt out of the 40 over stuff which would greatly reduce his workload.

As for him playing only T20. I see both sides of the coin. He is obviously a talent and more than handy in T20, but could it set a dangerous precedent?

It would be odd to have a Number 1 Test and T20 team and an number whatever ODI side as no one wants to play that. I imagine that this is being used as a warning to players like Swann.

But why do we need to be warning players? It's utterly daft to force players to play a format they do not want to be playing and will just end up with us ultimately getting less out of them across all the formats.


I brought up the Surrey fixture list earlier, the Surrey ECB dynamic will be interesting to watch.

Said just the same thing.

[braveneutral]

She makes you wonder sometimes. I don't think she ever lost it, probably spent a few months doing her nails before thinking she should hatch the escape plan. Ten minutes later and she was free.

Flexibility is something worth thinking about, but I sure the selectors would want to be deciding which formats that players play.

Shanky, you should have pride in playing for you country. ODI cricket is far less glamourous now than it ever has been, so to set a precedent by saying you can play one and not the other could be dangerous. Emphasis on could. We don't know what each player is thinking. KP has a kid who he wants to see more of and that is a great deal more important to me than playing in some ODIs. Swann may not like it because England aren't great at it, so instead of sticking around and making England better, he may want out and enjoy a month on the beach in Swaziland (I am aware that Swaziland is landlocked).

I think it is a warning to Swann in particular as he said that he wanted to play T20s but not ODIs. I, of course, don't know whether he truly thinks that and whether the ECB are using this to show they will be tough. I just think it could be part of their feeling. If they know that maybe a few of the established Test players who play across multiple formats don't like ODI cricket but want to play in one or both of the others, they could be wary of a mass walkout if they happily let KP do it!

Again, I see why he would be extremely valuable in the WT20, but I can see the ECB's point of view is all.

[shankycricket]

She makes you wonder sometimes. I don't think she ever lost it, probably spent a few months doing her nails before thinking she should hatch the escape plan. Ten minutes later and she was free.

Flexibility is something worth thinking about, but I sure the selectors would want to be deciding which formats that players play.

Shanky, you should have pride in playing for you country. ODI cricket is far less glamourous now than it ever has been, so to set a precedent by saying you can play one and not the other could be dangerous. Emphasis on could. We don't know what each player is thinking. KP has a kid who he wants to see more of and that is a great deal more important to me than playing in some ODIs. Swann may not like it because England aren't great at it, so instead of sticking around and making England better, he may want out and enjoy a month on the beach in Swaziland (I am aware that Swaziland is landlocked).

I think it is a warning to Swann in particular as he said that he wanted to play T20s but not ODIs. I, of course, don't know whether he truly thinks that and whether the ECB are using this to show they will be tough. I just think it could be part of their feeling. If they know that maybe a few of the established Test players who play across multiple formats don't like ODI cricket but want to play in one or both of the others, they could be wary of a mass walkout if they happily let KP do it!

Again, I see why he would be extremely valuable in the WT20, but I can see the ECB's point of view is all.

In which case, he should be allowed to do so. If you force a player to play a format he doesnt want to play, then you are never going to get 100% out of them. If Swann doesnt want to play ODIs, then he shouldnt. If we force him to play ODIs just because he wants to play T20Is then we will not get the best out of him in ODIs as he doesnt want to play that format. I'd rather select a player who actually wants to play ODIs.

[braveneutral]

He may not want to, but I bet when he puts on that shirt, he puts in 100% every game regardless of whether he likes the format or not. He takes pride in his performance and his country.

Think of this:

I don't like writing essays about the tragedy caused by money problems as shown by Chekhov's Cherry Orchard. I think it is pointless and doesn't help me in the slightest. However, I have to write such essays and thus out of pride for myself I put in 100% every time such a task is set.

[shankycricket]

Excellent Article here. Truly magnificent. And Strauss not officially retiring from T20Is is mentioned too.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... 66835.html

[pompeymeowth]

The worst part is, Slurry will be virtually unbeatable now, if they weren't already.

County attendances will be boosted, which is great. I was at the Sussex-Surrey match at Hove, when KP scored a superb ton, then became James Kirtley's last ever wicket, in a thrilling tied game and the grand old stadium was packed out!

The man sitting next to me gave me a cheese and pickle sandwich too, as thanks for all the info I gave him about players, rules and such.

What a great day that was.

[#Brown]

Let’s play a game and imagine you’re the ECB:

There are more grounds in the country upgrading to bring themselves to an international standard…because T20 aside, it’s almost a necessity for big clubs to balance the books.

So you start staging pointless ODI series against the likes of Australia, fiscally advantageous for both the county and yourselves…boards are happy, together with local populace and everyone wins.

Your ‘star’ batter, who is no stranger to money spinning cricket, then sees the futility in it all with his young family and requests not to play in such a format. Maybe adds something noble about giving youngsters a chance.

You can either say yes and allow him to manage his workload, thereby setting a trend for other ‘star’ players to make such requests. All of a sudden the product you’re trying to sell to the money laden public and broadcasters is very much a watered down contest, with the likes of Rikki Clarke opening the batting and bowling.

Or you say no, quoting a pointless rule and do not allow him to pick and choose his formats…in doing so you exacerbate an already spiky relationship and take one step closer to forcing him out the door entirely. After all, it’s just a matter of time before he realises his quality of life can be improved in all areas by biting the bullet, flipping you the bird and only playing in T20 competitions around the world.

The fun in the game is that you can either chose yes or no and will only lose…the quality of your product can only be diminished, with the best players eventually watching games on a satellite feed from their yachts wherever they happen to be moored that week.

Maybe the only thing to do is reign in your own greed, reduce the quantity of the amount played in order to ensure the quality, and interest, remains.

Still, at the least there’s James Taylor. For now.

[Making_Splinters]

I do wonder whether the responce from the cricketing polis would have been the same if KP had asked to retire from international T20s rather than ODIs.

I know why the ECB will be inclined to stick with their position, I just don't really see the justification for it when the two teams are clearly very distinct in reality.

At the end of the day the only side that will lose here is the ECB.

[greyblazer]

Excellent Article here. Truly magnificent. And Strauss not officially retiring from T20Is is mentioned too.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... 66835.html

You say everything which shows that Strauss won't play again but never use the word retirement. Nice way to get around things

[greyblazer]

KP at his best in limited overs cricket.

First one at Bristol against Australia in 2005.OZ were down and out after losing to Banglas in the 1st match but mounted a serious challenge against Eng. by getting 250 runs on the board.Chasing that score Eng were 160 for 6 before KP came up with a wonderful knock.Solanki and Lewis were mere spectators as KP smashed bowlers like Kasper, McGrath and especially Dizzy all over the park.

The shot that @kevinpp24 played of Dizzy between long on and midwicket would make Viv proud and give nightmares everyday to Dizzy.

The second one would be KP's knock at East London in SA in 04/05. England lost the match by just six runs but a stunning knock was played by a superb batsman.The Saffer crowd as expected was baying for his blood and Eng. needed 130 runs of 13 overs I think. Eng. almost got those 130 runs in 13 overs. A few times KP tried to smash Kallis and Ntini over midwicket but changed his stroke and smashed it straight down the ground!!

The third one would be KP's knock at Centurion in the same series. England had already lost the series and there was nothing but pride at stake.As expected all the batsmen looked like were ready to pack their bags and go back home.Enter KP who plays a great knock on a spicy pitch.At 6 for 60 it looked all doom and gloom but you know with KP anything can happen. He just premeditated his shots by standing on legstump and smashing even wide of off-stump deliveries by Ntini over midwicket for 6.Again it seemed like Viv was batting as KP swatted SA pacers like flies and the pitch wasn't easy to bat either.

4th one was strangely KP's last match.Played in Dubai the match was interestingly poised as chasing down a moderate total Eng.lost quick wickets.Enter KP who plays one of his better knocks.He just paced his innings beautifully to take Eng. to home. People tell me he isn't a team player though.

The last one would be KP's knock against the Kiwis in 08.I picked this knock mainly because of those incredible switch hits of Styris.

Couple more knocks I can think of are KP's knock at Wanderers in 05 and at Lahore in Pak in 05/06. Yes he just made about 20 not out at Wanderers but it didn't just help Eng. to win but it also showed here was a very confident man.The Saff.crowd was going after KP and the pitch was doing all sorts of things yet he showed superb technique and temperament to counter it.At Lahore Eng. needed quick runs and KP smashed all the bowlers including a fiery Akthar.Inzy set as many fielders as he could on the on-side yet KP had the chutzpah to smash all of them over midwicket for nothing less than a six!

It is sad but true that I am already reminiscing all those great knocks by KP yet I have to say it was a pleasure to watch @kevinpp24 bat.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Great post gb. Remember how often the commentators would criticise him for letting the score build up, because he always got in first, but be made to look fools, because once set, he could chase anything. At Bristol, Botham was particularly scathing.

[greyblazer]

Vaughan on KP.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricke ... cause.html

[greyblazer]

Great post gb. Remember how often the commentators would criticise him for letting the score build up, because he always got in first, but be made to look fools, because once set, he could chase anything. At Bristol, Botham was particularly scathing.

Thanks, the commentators did that in the 2007 WC against WI too as he took time to settle down.

[meninblue]

Sachin, Lara, Warne, Ponting have been criticized. Many wanted to drop them at some point or other. So i am not surprised someone like KP went through same things.

[Arthur Crabtree]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... 66823.html

KP has left the stats behind.

Don't most cricketers cut back on their workload in their thirties? Most cut back on the ODIs. Some bowlers cut out Tests as the body weakens.

Mike Selvey says that he could be sued for breach of contract. But players always retire when the body and soul tells them to. Not when the contract tells them to.