The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Kim]

Time to compromise IMO.

KP makes himeslf available for SA ODI series but we dont pick him. Can make an argument for that and ECB gets a pound of flesh.

Then he plays in World T20 and retires again.

Done. Not a great solution but its pro sport and you dont mess about with chances to win a world title

[rich1uk]

if i was being cynical i might think that hes thinking that he wont get back into the ODI team anyway after the success of the top 4 this summer so can "un-retire" and play t20s without having to play ODis anyway

[hopeforthebest]

A month or so ago, before Pietersen retired, Simon Hughes talking on TMS said KP had taken a significant share in a sports management company and become a director. Ian Bell is a client of that same company.
So instead of being cynical let's go for a conspiracy theory instead.
Pietersen's retirement was a ploy to get his client Ian Bell back into the ODI team.

[shankycricket]

if i was being cynical i might think that hes thinking that he wont get back into the ODI team anyway after the success of the top 4 this summer so can "un-retire" and play t20s without having to play ODis anyway

I was thinking the same.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Even if you don't select KP in the ODI side because it is doing well, few would claim he isn't at least our next best batter. So then he could have a worst case scenario, travelling the world with the ODI side... as a reserve!

[rich1uk]

Even if you don't select KP in the ODI side because it is doing well, few would claim he isn't at least our next best batter. So then he could have a worst case scenario, travelling the world with the ODI side... as a reserve!

yeah dont think he would be too keen on that but i dont see how he could get back into the team atm if he did decide to make himself available again

[shankycricket]

Even if you don't select KP in the ODI side because it is doing well, few would claim he isn't at least our next best batter. So then he could have a worst case scenario, travelling the world with the ODI side... as a reserve!

He will retire after the World T20 though. No away series.

[Gingerfinch]

I'd like it if the selectors stick to their guns. The whole situation borders on schoolboy stuff but KP has retired and our ODI side has had a decent series without him. Early days, yes but he's not irreplaceable.
We will miss him in 20/20's but hey, we can at least build for the furture, as KP is no spring chicken.

[Kim]

A month or so ago, before Pietersen retired, Simon Hughes talking on TMS said KP had taken a significant share in a sports management company and become a director. Ian Bell is a client of that same company.
So instead of being cynical let's go for a conspiracy theory instead.
Pietersen's retirement was a ploy to get his client Ian Bell back into the ODI team.

It makses sense. KP also bought Bothams shares - and Botham has been bigging up Bell as well so maybe that was part of the deal.

And Bell, now hes about to become a Dad, made need the extra dosh of ODI win bonuses

We may have a global cricket conspiracy on our hands here.

[rich1uk]

if he reversed his decision to retire from ODIs just to go to the t20 WC and then decided to retire again i would hope he never played cricket for england in any format again regardless of how much i supported him in the past

blatant manipulation like that would deserve no less

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bell must be very rich already. Having been in the England side for eight years. Maybe he's more likely to go down the KP route if he's now a parent. And nearing his thirties. Most players reach a time when touring all the time isn't reasonable, and they wish to cut back on some commitments. More or less all players make the choice that KP has done eventually. It is rarely an issue.

[shankycricket]

if he reversed his decision to retire from ODIs just to go to the t20 WC and then decided to retire again i would hope he never played cricket for england in any format again regardless of how much i supported him in the past

blatant manipulation like that would deserve no less

Or maybe it'd show how badly he wants to play for England in the World T20.

[shankycricket]

I'd like it if the selectors stick to their guns. The whole situation borders on schoolboy stuff but KP has retired and our ODI side has had a decent series without him. Early days, yes but he's not irreplaceable.
We will miss him in 20/20's but hey, we can at least build for the furture, as KP is no spring chicken.

I agree about the ODIs. I did say at the time of his retirement that he was not irreplaceable in ODIs.

[rich1uk]

if he reversed his decision to retire from ODIs just to go to the t20 WC and then decided to retire again i would hope he never played cricket for england in any format again regardless of how much i supported him in the past

blatant manipulation like that would deserve no less

Or maybe it'd show how badly he wants to play for England in the World T20.

i wouldn't really care

what he has done up to now is perfectly reasonable imo , basically lying about unretiring just to get back into the t20 side and then quit ODIs again immediately afterwards wouldn't be

[Kim]

Bell must be very rich already. Having been in the England side for eight years. Maybe he's more likely to go down the KP route if he's now a parent. And nearing his thirties. Most players reach a time when touring all the time isn't reasonable, and they wish to cut back on some commitments. More or less all players make the choice that KP has done eventually. It is rarely an issue.

I think thats the most difficult time for them - when they have a young child. Trotty went on the Aus tour very soon after his little girl was born and spent most of his free time on Skype.