Arthur Crabtree wrote:cricketfan90 wrote:KP - IMO a very good cricketer, but not a great
I was careful not to overstate. Seeing as KP retires with an average only Boycott can match since Barrington, (that's 50 years) and with the second most tons ever, and one of our highest ever run scorers, surely he is an England great?...
Dr Robert wrote:Is it easier now? Debatable.
I will agree with ms, in that the 90's (and early 00's) was a harder era to bat, thanks to the great bowlers that were around, but their were only two good teams up until the 1950's, maybe longer. Nowadays players have to show their skill against different type's of bowling on different types of wickets.
I would say it's probably about equal. I remember a poster on the old 606, called hoggy_bear, who gave a good argument on this.
Dr Robert wrote:Is it easier now? Debatable.
Arthur Crabtree wrote:Pietersen's relationship with the UK has been as controversial as the merits of his international record. When KP answered to a forgotten question in a dining room queue in Australia, 'Don't ask me. I'm not English, I just play for them' was he brazenly and mockingly admitting his mercenary motives? Or was this classic English irony assimilated from his English mother?
As a UK citizen from birth it seems strange that Kevin should have to qualify for England. In fact he didn't really have to by ICC rules; the ECB just chooses to implement its own impediments. That Geoff Miller made a press announcement stating England would pick fewer overseas born players, while announcing the selection of Jade Dernbach and Stuart Meaker, suggested the ECB wanted this attractive talent, but resented the need. Later the ECB formalised this prejudice.
Pietersen seemed to have a good relationship with his team mates, who have lined up to defend his record in the dressing room. Steve Harmison reckoned there was some jealousy for his commercial deals and IPL contract. The mantra though seemed to be 'I didn't have a problem with him'. Except for the summer of 2012, when Kevin was placed under particular pressure from a campaign of ECB press leaks. And it has to be admitted that the English newspapers mostly hated KP with the passion of a wronged lover.
I was troubled by the attitude of the England fans to Pietersen. As he walked off the field after a hundred, the ground would stand up to applaud him to the pavilion. And Kevin would swing round to wave his bat to all of the crowd. It felt like a bond. But a fair degree of hate was spread thickly across the internet. We finally got some numbers on this with the many polls carried out to judge the public reaction to his sacking. 80% supported Pietersen. 20% didn't. What could be the problem? He was qualified for England and he scored record amounts of runs for them. Why the bother?
My view is that some of the reaction was the result of the modern UK cultural cringe. A lack of national confidence that leaves us constantly searching for approval as a nation. This is frequently seen in the UK's ceaseless monitoring of whether the US is thinking about us. How English did Pietersen feel? Was he using us like a slapper exploiting an elderly millionaire? This lack of confidence seemed to account for the pockets of hostility in the ECB and the press, and meant he lacked support in places of influence.
So what was KP like? Of course, I don't know. He seemed polite in interviews, though slightly remote, keeping people at a distance with a little evasiveness. Unlike many stars, we have scant impression of his private life. He doesn't drink, and he is a dedicated practiser. He was said to be flash, but is that so bad for a young man with many opportunities before him? There are no press stories to suggest he misused his celebrity. He seemed to know his worth in pounds. Many said he was cocky, but I'm not sure he was, just confident in his ability, and imaginative in his batting. Assured, but introverted.
And now he's gone, and I can have a little peace from the clusters of hostility he provoked. But I'm sorry for how it ended. That we had to make it all so difficult. This unique sacking has disillusioned me a little, a ligature that has tied off my enthusiasm. But I made myself write these two posts, because I was always going to. When I enjoyed the good days, when they came about. it's a little sentimental but, y'know, I can only play one way.
Arthur Crabtree wrote:Pietersen's relationship with the UK has been as controversial as the merits of his international record. When KP answered to a forgotten question in a dining room queue in Australia, 'Don't ask me. I'm not English, I just play for them' was he brazenly and mockingly admitting his mercenary motives? Or was this classic English irony assimilated from his English mother?...
...And now he's gone, and I can have a little peace from the clusters of hostility he provoked. But I'm sorry for how it ended. That we had to make it all so difficult. This unique sacking has disillusioned me a little, a ligature that has tied off my enthusiasm. But I made myself write these two posts, because I was always going to. When I enjoyed the good days, when they came about. it's a little sentimental but, y'know, I can only play one way.
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