The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[hopeforthebest]

He must be desperate to showcase himself in the T20 WC and increse his value for the T20 circuit.

[OffStumpYorker]

ddb, thats because hes centrally contracted, so they still control when and where he can play.

the fact that the apology was almost at the 11th hour probably means that he wont be called up for england duty in this test, but its still possible they could drop bairstow/taylor to make room, or simply call KP up to act as the twelth man.

[Making_Splinters]

Well the Mail article did say that the ECB would be holding some sort of meeting tomorrow which would at least give some reason for them not to want him playing. Interestingly it must be assumed that KP has apologised in private to the players / board - the right thing for everyone concerned in my view - but the same Mail article mentioned above said the demand was for a public apology.

Hopefully this will be the end of all this, if KP has actually apologised for his actions and withdrawn any and all obstacles to him playing for England then there surely can't be any reason why he will not be returning to England duties in the near future.

[hopeforthebest]

The idea that they will kick Bairstow out to bring in KP is laughable.

[shankycricket]

So now when he apologises, its because he wants to increase his value in the T20 market. If he didnt apologise, he'd have been called stubborn and egoistic.

He just can't win, can he?

Not that I am really surprised by these comments but its rather disappointing.

[shankycricket]

Not sure why the idea that we will drop a novice who couldnt buy a run against the West Indies for our best batsman, who scored a ton and was the man of the match in the last test is laughable.

[Making_Splinters]

The idea that they will kick Bairstow out to bring in KP is laughable.

It would be very funny, but highly unlikely.

[hopeforthebest]

Pitersen has been angling to play just T20 and no ODI from the begining if they include him in the WC squad he will be laughing.

[D/L]

...Hopefully this will be the end of all this, if KP has actually apologised for his actions and withdrawn any and all obstacles to him playing for England then there surely can't be any reason why he will not be returning to England duties in the near future.

Other than the bad feeling he has generated in the camp. Any apology given purely out of self-interest will do little to mitigate that.

[D/L]

So now when he apologises, its because he wants to increase his value in the T20 market. If he didnt apologise, he'd have been called stubborn and egoistic.

He just can't win, can he?

Not that I am really surprised by these comments but its rather disappointing.

An apology, if there has been one, especially so late in the day, will do little to change peoples’ opinions.

There will be many doubts as to its sincerity anyway. An insincere apology is not an apology at all.

Will the ECB now include Pietersen in the team for Lords? Of course, if they want to make themselves a laughing stock.

[yorker_129-7]

That Pietersen is our best batsman is a matter of pure opinion. Personally in my view England would be nowhere without the contributions of both Trott and Cook in the last two years.

[D/L]

That Pietersen is our best batsman is a matter of pure opinion. Personally in my view England would be nowhere without the contributions of both Trott and Cook in the last two years.

May I agree with you on that, yorker_129-7?

[Making_Splinters]

As pointed out previously D/L, the ECB made the sincerity of any apology almost an unaviodable issue when they demanded that there had to be one or the player faced exile from the team in the press, very much at odds with Strauss' comments on keeping the dressing room a private affair.

[Making_Splinters]

That Pietersen is our best batsman is a matter of pure opinion. Personally in my view England would be nowhere without the contributions of both Trott and Cook in the last two years.

May I agree with you on that, yorker_129-7?

They'd equally have struggled with out KP who has made several key knocks in recent times, a fairly pointlessly circular debate.

[D/L]

It’s rather difficult to see how the ECB can enforce sincerity in any apology, M_S. However, neither can they go back on their word to reconsider the situation if an apology (sincere or not) is received by Saturday.

Many will think, though, that any apology received would be motivated more by self-interest than genuine contrition.