The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[m@tt]

So lets look at this event by event

1] KP criticises Nick Knight, is fined by ECB
Andersen criticises MV, no action taken.

Pietersen was already on a warning following his tweet about his exclusion from the ODI team. Accidental or not, he should have been more careful. Shouldn't have been fined though.
Anderson's comments have only just come out. Whilst I don't agree with player auto-biographies, at least he explain why he feels the way he does, arguably it is constructive criticism, rather than just made a crass comment on Twitter.

2] KP texts something (no one still know what exactly it was, as Flower himself admitted he did not know the content) to his friends in SA team, he is banned
Swann calls Samit mediocre fat spinner and is let off
Swann says something less than complimentary about KP in his bio and thats just an honest opinion

Swann was disciplined internally. England wanted the whole texting situation to be sorted out internally but Pietersen dallied and refused to clarify when given the opportunity. If he had sorted it instead of mucking about with Morgan and his agents, less leaks may have occurred.
As mentioned by someone else, KP also called Samit "unfit and fat and lazy" and nothing came of it.

3] KP accuses Broad, Swann and Andersen behind a parody twitter account. Subsequently that is owned up by some county player who is room mates with Broad. And half the Eng team follow the parody account within an hour of its creation. Circumstantial evidence, or rather for a person who is being parodied, this all points to his team mates ridiculing him. ECB ignores this.
KP texts something (no one still know what exactly it was, as Flower himself admitted he did not know the content) to his friends in SA team, he is banned. Now the ECB, Flower or anyone else did not have proof that this even happened. But KP was guilty until proven innocent. Also many posters dont acknowledge this as KPs honest opinion, when they feel that Swanns criticism of KPs captaincy was exactly that.

No evidence that Anderson, Swann or Broad were involved. Swann and Broad have both publicly denied knowledge - Broad via a statement, Swann via Twitter. Pietersen was given the option to do the same, i.e. put it in writing that he didn't send anything. He chose not to. If he had done so, he would have been trusted (or at least hope he would have).

[yorker_129-7]

Tell me the difference between situation a and b below Yorker.....

A. A current England player makes an unwarranted and unprovoked comment onan ex England opener turned broadcaster on his own web page. Despite the person in question never being particularily influential....player is fined and publicly lamented.

B. A current England player makes an unwarranted and unprovoked comment on an ex England opener turned broadcaster in a highly distributed national paper in order to sell more of his upcoming books... Said insulted player is one of the most successful England captains ever, the point of which the article was attacking.... nothing
Struggling to see the distinction....

Just for argument sake explain to me in child's terms why this is different.... And don't give me a vague cop out answer . Tell me why one is acceptable and one not.....and dl, your comment does not apply as this Nick Knight issue occurred before the retirement issues came to play

Very simply because...

1. One is criticising someone doing their job right now, the other with a job being done nearly 10 years ago.
2. One chose to insult personally, the other expressed mild displeasure to a third party.

Simple enough for you? I can take it down to one syllable if you want.

[yorker_129-7]

The use of phrases such as “anti KP” and "KP haters" really speaks volumes about how some appear to become trapped in, for want of a better phrase, the cult of personality, and seemingly blind to the actions of the person they so admire. Their defence of their hero is really as much in defence of their long entrenched positions.

For all I know, Pietersen may be a very nice chap (in many interviews, he comes across as such). It is his actions, and really only his latest ones (until recently, when I thought he really crossed a line, I’ve always been in favour of his selection) which I condemn.

This. Over and over again.

[braveneutral]

Hi!

Thought that I would pop in. Boy has this thread moved on.

[Arthur Crabtree]

You a hater or an apologist, bn?

[braveneutral]

If I declare that, I would be seen as foolish.

Probably neither. Think there are errors on both sides and big ones at that.

Although, I would add for those who 'hate' KP that no South African has been so badly treated since Mandela.

Mind, I would also add for those that 'love' KP that no South African has acted in such complete antagonisation of the authorities since Mandela.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Exactly my position.

[rich1uk]

Exactly my position.

i think thats the same position of most of the posters being accused of being "KP apologists"

i've said repeatedly that hes been stupid , hes made mistakes and i didn't agree with his original retirement

that does not preclude being critical of the ECB and team management for how they have handled the situation as well

[shankycricket]

If I declare that, I would be seen as foolish.

Probably neither. Think there are errors on both sides and big ones at that.

Although, I would add for those who 'hate' KP that no South African has been so badly treated since Mandela.

Mind, I would also add for those that 'love' KP that no South African has acted in such complete antagonisation of the authorities since Mandela.

[Dilbert]

Exactly my position.

i think thats the same position of most of the posters being accused of being "KP apologists"

i've said repeatedly that hes been stupid , hes made mistakes and i didn't agree with his original retirement

that does not preclude being critical of the ECB and team management for how they have handled the situation as well

Well said rich. I agree, most of us have said what he did was wrong, but the ECB has been really bad at handling this and other situations, and the whole things stinks of double standards. They should have fixed this issue long back, behind closed doors.

[D/L]

So lets look at this event by event

1] KP criticises Nick Knight, is fined by ECB
Andersen criticises MV, no action taken.

Pietersen was already on a warning following his tweet about his exclusion from the ODI team. Accidental or not, he should have been more careful. Shouldn't have been fined though.
Anderson's comments have only just come out. Whilst I don't agree with player auto-biographies, at least he explain why he feels the way he does, arguably it is constructive criticism, rather than just made a crass comment on Twitter.

2] KP texts something (no one still know what exactly it was, as Flower himself admitted he did not know the content) to his friends in SA team, he is banned
Swann calls Samit mediocre fat spinner and is let off
Swann says something less than complimentary about KP in his bio and thats just an honest opinion

Swann was disciplined internally. England wanted the whole texting situation to be sorted out internally but Pietersen dallied and refused to clarify when given the opportunity. If he had sorted it instead of mucking about with Morgan and his agents, less leaks may have occurred.
As mentioned by someone else, KP also called Samit "unfit and fat and lazy" and nothing came of it.

3] KP accuses Broad, Swann and Andersen behind a parody twitter account. Subsequently that is owned up by some county player who is room mates with Broad. And half the Eng team follow the parody account within an hour of its creation. Circumstantial evidence, or rather for a person who is being parodied, this all points to his team mates ridiculing him. ECB ignores this.
KP texts something (no one still know what exactly it was, as Flower himself admitted he did not know the content) to his friends in SA team, he is banned. Now the ECB, Flower or anyone else did not have proof that this even happened. But KP was guilty until proven innocent. Also many posters dont acknowledge this as KPs honest opinion, when they feel that Swanns criticism of KPs captaincy was exactly that.

No evidence that Anderson, Swann or Broad were involved. Swann and Broad have both publicly denied knowledge - Broad via a statement, Swann via Twitter. Pietersen was given the option to do the same, i.e. put it in writing that he didn't send anything. He chose not to. If he had done so, he would have been trusted (or at least hope he would have).

Good to see some perspective, m@tt.

I gather some of the nonsense you challenged was tweeted. Shame the twitterati probably didn't see your response.

[KipperJohn]

'No South African has been so badly treated since Mandela'.

What planet do you live on?

Never read such an odious or appalling comparision.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The post was intentionally and self evidently ridiculous.

[braveneutral]

The post was intentionally and self evidently ridiculous.

Thank you Arthur.

KipperJohn, I live on earth. Thanks for asking the question though as it is sometimes good to remind oneself of said fact.

[hopeforthebest]

I think it's time the mods closed this thread before war breaks out. Anyway there's nothing new that can be said about this subject.