The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[hopeforthebest]

Switch hit on cricinfo is worth a listen:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ ... 76274.html

[greyblazer]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricke ... -ball.html

For me Lord's will be his last test.

[KipperJohn]

I'll stick to my point over all this - you can have all the contractual disputes under the sun going on, but unless the player(s) understand add respect what being selected and playing for England really means - then I'm afraid this sort of thing will just get worse.

Sadly I don't think some of them do any more.

Central contracts have been an important 'cog' in England's prcgress - they should not, however. be used as a bartering tool for selection. That was always going to be one of the big risks in establishing them in the first place..

[Kim]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2185103/A-Test-England-deal-offer-Pietersen-play-ball.html

For me Lord's will be his last test.

Maybe. They need a good old cooling off period if you ask me. Once you reach the stage wher people are allegedly falling out over spoof twitter accoounts its ridiculous.

England need him in India and the world T20. Kp needs to play in the world t20 and in India.

Its all a bit foolish.

[hopeforthebest]

I think KP has forgotten how playing for England has changed his life and now believes he has done more for England than they have done for him. I think the rift is now so great that it cannot be repaired and the sooner he goes the better. It will be a setback for the team but a unified team of eleven may do as well as a ten man team with an isolated egoist.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'll stick to my point over all this - you can have all the contractual disputes under the sun going on, but unless the player(s) understand add respect what being selected and playing for England really means - then I'm afraid this sort of thing will just get worse.

Sadly I don't think some of them do any more.

Central contracts have been an important 'cog' in England's prcgress - they should not, however. be used as a bartering tool for selection. That was always going to be one of the big risks in establishing them in the first place..

Obviously, playing for England is an acknowledgement of your ability, and a great opportunity. But, just as clearly, the ECB can't use the 'honour' of playing for England to treat a player however they like, or not to take into account the considerations of the player. I don't think the honour of playing international cricket makes any difference. We all have our own idea of the standards of how players should be treated.

Playing for England also involves the ECB having to make great demands of a player, often over many years. We see, not infrequently, how these demands can lead to depression, and great mental fatigue. The ECB has to treat its players, who after all are their showcase, with reasonable care.

And it's not unreasonable to remember that while playing for England gives something to the player, the player is also giving something back to cricket in this country. In the case of Pietersen, a great deal, over many years. Between the Ashes of 05 and 09, KP quite prominently kept the national side afloat.

[Kim]

Spoof account is work of a journo not a player

[Arthur Crabtree]

Pringle?

;)

[Arthur Crabtree]

Though I presume this twitter thing is red herring.

[meninblue]

This issue is getting complicated every day. First came IPL, then ECB, then media and now the twitter account. I am not sure whats happening regarding this and what next will unfold tomorrow

[KipperJohn]

Of course the ECB has a duty of care as an employer - both legally amd morally - but we all know this situation could not have arisen if the employment arrangements had continued on pretty much a 'match by match' basis- as opposed to the current central contract arrangements - which, by and large, have done a lot of good. But the contracts have altered the dynamics of the situation and how a player perceives himself within the England set-up.

Yes KP had done some great things and sometimes he hasn't.So have other players. That's not the point. The issue is should he or any other player be in a position where he/they can, effectively, decide when and whare they will play.

The answer to that has to be an emphatic 'no'.

[Arthur Crabtree]

But of course, the position of the player should be taken into account. Especially an experienced player, who has been a very valuable and productive servant of the team. I'm not suggesting allowances be made just for KP, but for all players with similar service, at a similar age.

I was mainly saying 'the honour of playing for England' is a variable factor and difficult to quantify and can't really usefully be considered in negotiations between player and board.

There could even be loose guidelines for players about what concessions can be allowed for players at what age/length of service, so players can plan for them, or work towards them. That would take out the concern that decisions made are based on personality. As with Strauss not playing T20s, but still having a full contract.

[Making_Splinters]

As i've said plenty of times throughout this thread, if central contracts were working propperly then no player would be in a position where they felt that they either needed additional rest or quite equally less rest. The whole point was suppsoed to be giving the ECB complete control over a player's career while they play for England so they can ensure that they're getting the best out of them every time they take the field.

The fact we've gotten to the stage where players are vocally questioning the amount of times they are rested during the season be it too much in Jimmy's eyes or too little in KPs eyes shows that the system is fundamentally broken somewhere.

[hopeforthebest]

AC wrote:

As with Strauss not playing T20s, but still having a full contract.

-------------------------------------
According to Dobell on cricinfo Strauss was told that he was not being considered for T20, so it was not his decision. He went on to say that the situation for Strauss cannot be seen as president for the KP situation.

[Gingerfinch]

Yes, I don't think Flower was to worried if Strauss plays T20. Possibly saved him from telling Strauss, thanks but no thanks.