The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Making_Splinters]

I don't really think there will be a slew of ODI retirements around the world, if anything we're seeing players retire from the T20 format internationally - Ponting, Clarke, Strauss, Tendulkar.

As I've said throughout this thread, we shouldn't tie player's hands; if they don't want to play ODIs there are plenty of other players out there who would relish the chance to stand up in that format I wonder if they removed the clause we might not see more players quiting T20 internationally than ODIs.

[andy]

there was some cracking debate today on SS1 between, nasser, athers.....bumble,beefy about this issue and the anderson one today, was very good, did anyone else see it?

[dan08]

there was some cracking debate today on SS1 between, nasser, athers.....bumble,beefy about this issue and the anderson one today, was very good, did anyone else see it?

Yes. I see you didn't mention Nick Knight.

[andy]

compeltely forgot him lol, but yes he did offer some.....insight.

[Arthur Crabtree]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-w ... 68012.html

This is so utterly reasonable.

[Kim]

Well that's George for you, Arthur

[Arthur Crabtree]

D'oh.You need a mine detector on cricinfo.

[m@tt]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-west-indies-2012/content/current/story/568012.html

This is so utterly reasonable.

Pietersen's reasoning is sound. Very sound. Problem is, he's probably gone into a meeting all guns blazing and the ECB have answered him based on the way he put his demands across rather than the demands themselves.

I still think that both of them could have come to an understanding if they really put themselves to it. But neither like each other so it didn't happen.

[shankycricket]

My apologies to Andy Flower. He did want KP in the side.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18 ... um=twitter

[Arthur Crabtree]

KP says that only Dhoni has been playing more international cricket. Can't remember over what period. So Flower hasn't been resting him that carefully. It still isn't clear why a compromise couldn't have been found. Even if the ECB had to make concessions. Even given him the summer off for ODIs. Or just played one of the series. Pietersen isn't just any player. He's been doing all formats for longer than anyone else in the England team. Swann is comparable, but KP has been doing it for twice as long.

[shankycricket]

To be honest, its not as if KP hasnt been rested in the past. He was rested last summer for the home ODIs against India. Something to do with the fact that he didnt play the IPL last year? I think his timing of asking(demanding) a rest was wrong as it came fairly closely after the IPL. If he had asked for a rest after the SA Tests, then the ECB would have probably been more sympathetic. It could have been handled better but I really dont see why KP needs a rest at the moment. Swann has played the most matches by any England player, I reckon. Apart from the post Ashes ODIs in 2010/11 when he got injured, he has played just about everything in the last 2 and a half years. He has far more right to feel aggrieved.

[D/L]

None of the foregoing trumps the argument that the ECB cannot afford to let one player wriggle out of the commitments he made, of his own free will, when he signed his central contract last October.

If they make allowances for one, they’ll have to make allowances for all and that way lies chaos. It’s nice to see a cricketing authority showing some backbone for a change.

[OffStumpYorker]

KP says that only Dhoni has been playing more international cricket. Can't remember over what period. So Flower hasn't been resting him that carefully. It still isn't clear why a compromise couldn't have been found. Even if the ECB had to make concessions. Even given him the summer off for ODIs. Or just played one of the series. Pietersen isn't just any player. He's been doing all formats for longer than anyone else in the England team. Swann is comparable, but KP has been doing it for twice as long.

The way I look at it is that there was an opportunity for KP to rest during the IPL he chose not to. Its like a company scheduling in a 3 week holiday for all its employees during in a quiet period on the understanding that they are available for the next 6 months of the busy period without any more than a long weekend, but one Employee comes in and says he needs another 3 week break, when asked why he says that during the company 3 week break he had a side job and is feeling the strain and wants to spend time with his family.

what does the company do? Backdown or tell the employee no, they signed a contract knowing the implications. Its not as if the summer schedule wasnt known by KP BEFORE he signed the contract in October.

[Making_Splinters]

At the end of the day KP and his management have found the line they can use which is firstly tough for people to disagree with, secondly makes the ECB look like the bad guys in this whole debarcle and so ultimately may pave the way for the removal of the both or none approach they take to the the one day formats.

The ECB has the ability to maintain its both or none approach for full central contracts which makes a lot of sense and remove it for those not tied to a full central contract, best of both worlds for everyone concerned.

[OffStumpYorker]

I note that Andy Flower has stated this has been an on going issue for KP over the last 18 months, and that KP was going to be rested for the West Indies ODI series anyway.

http://www.cricket-match-special.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=4&t=15748