The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[hopeforthebest]

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

Splinters this ha been a poinless circular debate for the last week.

[m@tt]

The thing to consider Ginger is that in his first season for Notts KP played double the number of first class innings he'd played in all his previous seasons in South Africa and it wasn't a gradual shift from being a bit iffy to being very good but an instant switch, he left South Africa supposedly only good enough to bat 10 and turned up in England a top class player. I really don't know how you explain that dramatic change.

Pietersen did also have a spell with a club team prior to joining Notts. The story goes that he wasn't required to bowl much so was able to work lots on his batting. After his spell was over, he returned to Natal but barely got a look in and moved to Notts.

[Kim]

@tmsproducer: Currently @bbc5live @StewieCricket talking about the @kevinpp24 issue. Alec reveals he understands that Kevin has apologised over texts
@tmsproducer: Also @StewieCricket says he understands Pietersen camp now waiting for ECB response to apology

@tmsproducer: And finally @StewieCricket reveals that @kevinpp24 wanted to play for @surreycricket v @Middlesex_CCC tomorrow but the ECB didn't allow him

BBC have now corrected that - KP said he preffered not to play so isnt.

Lot of wild journalism today

[Making_Splinters]

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.

Indeed, D/L. Precisely why that article in the Mail was such a monumental blunder.

[Arthur Crabtree]

When KP writes his autobiography, there won't be room for any cricket in it.

The whole thing has become quite infantile. The most idiotic thing I've read concerning this, and it is competing in a strong field, is when Mike Selvey took exception to Pietersen releasing a youtube video around the same time as Mohammad Farah was winning a gold medal.

Come on. Get a grip.

Wonder if Boycott ever criticised his team mates?

[D/L]

When KP writes his autobiography, there won't be room for any cricket in it.

The whole thing has become quite infantile. The most idiotic thing I've read concerning this, and it is competing in a strong field, is when Mike Selvey took exception to Pietersen releasing a youtube video around the same time as Mohammad Farah was winning a gold medal.

Come on. Get a grip.

Wonder if Boycott ever criticised his team mates?

No doubt he did, but he’d have needed a megaphone for it to have 0.000001% of the impact.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Cricinfo: Broad denies parody involvement.

That's like a headline off the CMS headline thread.

I like this sub headline from the Guardian: Pietersen has already pulled the plug from under the ECB. Now he wants the kitchen sink.

Or: Pietersen casts shadow over landmark Test for Strauss.

Keep them coming in.

[Aidan11]

There's been enough material this week from the ECB & Daily Fail to do a comedy sketch worthy of anything Monty Python ever did.

[Aidan11]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... 77393.html

The apology presumably constituted an admission of guilt and as such leaves him at risk of a heavy fine, a suspension or both. If England's managing director, Hugh Morris, continues to pursue a hard line it could automatically rule him out of a tournament in which he desperately wants to take part in.

Can't win can he?

Damned if he does. Damned if he doesn't.

[m@tt]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/577393.html

The apology presumably constituted an admission of guilt and as such leaves him at risk of a heavy fine, a suspension or both. If England's managing director, Hugh Morris, continues to pursue a hard line it could automatically rule him out of a tournament in which he desperately wants to take part in.

Can't win can he?

Damned if he does. Damned if he doesn't.

Shouldn't have sent the texts then. Last week, he had the option to deny or downplay the messages, not just admit guilt, but didn't. If he had done, it would have been a lot less painful.

I'm glad the apology has come eventually. Would have been a lot easier had this been done last week. As fallible as the ECB are, there is air that needs to be cleared between KP and the team and hopefully this apology is the first step towards that.

[hopeforthebest]

The ECB are now in a spot of bother, if they now include KP in the T20 squad they will be shown as weak if they don't they will be shown as inflexible bullies. Congratulations Kevin Pietersen for a job well done.

[D/L]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/577393.html

The apology presumably constituted an admission of guilt and as such leaves him at risk of a heavy fine, a suspension or both. If England's managing director, Hugh Morris, continues to pursue a hard line it could automatically rule him out of a tournament in which he desperately wants to take part in.

Can't win can he?

Damned if he does. Damned if he doesn't.

Why should he win (presumably meaning getting off Scot free) just because of an apology (news to me, by the way)?

[D/L]

The ECB are now in a spot of bother, if they now include KP in the T20 squad they will be shown as weak if they don't they will be shown as inflexible bullies...

I don’t think the choice is as stark as that. If they don’t , they will be seen by many as having a bit of backbone, for a change.

[Aidan11]

ECB now want KP to apologise for rise in the train fares.

[hopeforthebest]

Will we now see Pietersen and Strauss walk out onto the hallowed Lords turf and hug one another to show team unity is restored.