The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[SaintPowelly]

Remember it was KP sending texts about Strauss that kickstarted the problems, did anyone really expect Strauss to give him a lifeline ??

Did anyone expect Strauss to put cricket before personal politics on his first day as part of the management? Not really.

It is impossible these days to expect any of the ECB to act in a professional manner rather than just slinging, "But he did it first" like the school children they are.

Again, KP alienated himself by writing the book, which could of easily waited until retirement.

He was retired. His career was buried. Graves resurrected it, after the book.

Talk about cutting down tall poppies!

He wasn't retired, Tendulkar is retired, Ponting is retired, Langer is retired.

KP is an active player and was at the time of the book.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Fuming. Though half an hour ago my predominant feeling was sadness - sadness that this decision had to happen and that we'll now definitely not see Pietersen play for (or in) England again.

I can't understand it. Strauss better have a bloody good reason.

KP was never intended to come back. Graves screwed up. We're still living with Downton/Flower's decision. Kevin shouldn't be playing CC at all. He should be getting on with his life (given the Sydney declaration).

Shame though. Another glimpse of KP this summer would have been irresistible.

[Dr Cricket]

I would say KP was retired in the same sense that Yusuf, Afridi and many Pakistani cricketers were retired when one Coach/Selector, Prime minister of the Country, Chairman of the board don't like them.
KP wanted to play but he knew not under Cook, Downton/Moores it will never happen.

Plus he was contractually allowed to give his side of the story.

[Arthur Crabtree]

KP is an active player and was at the time of the book.

Retired from international cricket. In so far as he was told he could never play it again.

[dan08]

https://twitter.com/pkelso/status/597896363465117696

[Arthur Crabtree]

Too much speculation. Better just wait for clarification.

[dan08]

No idea what's going on... Oh well I'm going to sleep.

[Alviro Patterson]

Fuming. Though half an hour ago my predominant feeling was sadness - sadness that this decision had to happen and that we'll now definitely not see Pietersen play for (or in) England again.

I can't understand it. Strauss better have a bloody good reason.

KP was never intended to come back. Graves screwed up. We're still living with Downton/Flower's decision. Kevin shouldn't be playing CC at all. He should be getting on with his life (given the Sydney declaration).

Shame though. Another glimpse of KP this summer would have been irresistible.

Not true, Graves said the final decision lies with the selectors and coaches. KP chose county cricket ahead of IPL, his decision.

[Dr Cricket]

It seem like most media men agree that he has not been sacked but him playing is very very very unlikely.
basically what we knew before.
It looks like weirdly Strauss as dealt with it nicely, Although not sure about the Leaking business by the ECB.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Not true, Graves said the final decision lies with the selectors and coaches. KP chose county cricket ahead of IPL, his decision.

KP was told there was no way back. Graves offered him a way back. He said that scoring runs in the CC could effect a return. Without Graves, none of this is happening.

[Dr Cricket]

Fuming. Though half an hour ago my predominant feeling was sadness - sadness that this decision had to happen and that we'll now definitely not see Pietersen play for (or in) England again.

I can't understand it. Strauss better have a bloody good reason.

KP was never intended to come back. Graves screwed up. We're still living with Downton/Flower's decision. Kevin shouldn't be playing CC at all. He should be getting on with his life (given the Sydney declaration).

Shame though. Another glimpse of KP this summer would have been irresistible.

Not true, Graves said the final decision lies with the selectors and coaches. KP chose county cricket ahead of IPL, his decision.

Yep I might try and find the article where he stated he had nothing to lose by joining surrey and ditching IPL since he categorically stated he could go IPL next year but will only get one opportunity at playing for england.

Graves apparently even told him he might not even play for england so not sure Graves should get the blame. Kevin Pietersen himself knew it was a long shot.

[Dr Cricket]

Not true, Graves said the final decision lies with the selectors and coaches. KP chose county cricket ahead of IPL, his decision.

KP was told there was no way back. Graves offered him a way back. He said that scoring runs in the CC could effect a return. Without Graves, none of this is happening.

But KP knew the risk.

[Alviro Patterson]

Not true, Graves said the final decision lies with the selectors and coaches. KP chose county cricket ahead of IPL, his decision.

KP was told there was no way back. Graves offered him a way back. He said that scoring runs in the CC could effect a return. Without Graves, none of this is happening.

But KP knew the risk.

Competing with county cricketers who have similar aspirations of England selection, but before that is the form of current England middle order batsmen. Can't see Ballance, Bell and Root getting dropped in a hurry.

Only thing KP can hope for is one of the England middle order suffers an injury and being the England qualified leading runscorer in County Cricket by the end of June.

[Dr Cricket]

or if England are losing 2-0 or even 1-1 with one test to play and Ballance,Root,Bell, Ali/Stokes having a shocker with the bat.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well there's the pathos. Pietersen was so desperate to play for England. That's the twist in the story. The egotist. The South African who didn't care and threw it away because it was all about him. The mercenary. It' transpires that the risk was a phantom. Performance was irrelevant.

If Pietersen was to come back, it was because the ECB offered an on field means of him returning to the England team. That is what Graves suggested (and they had private meetings before Kevin signed with Surrey). That avenue was what what was denied him by Downton/Flower. Pietersen humbled himself again and again to play for England. He said to Downton that he wanted to break the England Test run scoring record. Downton told him that this worried him, because it was selfish.

The England managers did this to him, not once, but definitively, twice. As well as every day in between Sydney and today. I fail to see how even the most ravenous KP antagonist could fail to be satisfied.