The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Arthur Crabtree]

But more relevant to the first test. Strauss got a ton and Bell a fifty as well.

[D/L]

I suppose it comes down to your views on man management and how to get the best out of your options. To me, sticking by absolute rules is a recipe for trouble. And England haven't always done it. Others think we should do it the army way. If we are going to do it that way, then we should expect it to be always done that way.

You seem to take the view that this is a case of 'the little man' being oppressed by a giant organisation. Whereas in fact it is a dispute between a Muti-millionaire who's whole career has been based on self interest and an organisation doing it's best to serve English cricket.

Precisely, and not sticking to the rules is a recipe for a whole heap of trouble, far more than just losing the services of one player who didn't want to honour his contract. I'm afraid I don't understand the term, the "army way" in this context. It seems to me that the ECB are behaving like any other employer in "Civvy Street".

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think we reached this point about ten pages ago! I recognise the scenery. Makes me feel for marriage guidance councillors.

[andy]

Kp's gone past 150!

[Making_Splinters]

Even if KP decided to unretire he wouldn't get back into the ODI side and quite rightly to; the top five have hit a rich vein of form between them and none of them deserve to be dropped simply to accommodate him.

I wouldn't want to see any compromise made, rules are rules - despite how much I disagree with them - and until the contracts are changed to allow a player to play one format and not the other then the ECB should firmly stick to them even if it weakens our team as the old saying goes live by the sword die by the sword.

Unless KP is prepared to make himself fully availble in both formats for several years to come he should shut up and put up with the consequences his decisions have brought, equally the ECB have to accept responcibility that due to their inability to fully realise their role in the careers of centrally contracted players England will be without the services of the most talented limited overs player we could field.

It's a rotten state of affairs but horse trading would be nothing but a superficial improvement which would have worse outcomes long term.

[shankycricket]

Its official. He has "unretired".


http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... 72361.html


Dont think he'd get into the ODI side until the India tour but great to have him back in t20.

[shankycricket]

He is unbeaten on 234.

Even though the detractors may put it down to flat pitch and short boundaries, people who have actually watched the game feel otherwise.

?@kartikmurali
Exceptional innings big fella @kevinpp24 ..unbelievable pyrotechnics....u def. R playing Sunday too..haha

@StewieCricket
Batting of the highest quality from @kevinpp24 today. Showed the County Game why he's a world class batsman

[shankycricket]

@GeorgeDobell1
Anyone at Guildford today and seeing KP bat can count themselves very fortunate. They are witnessing greatness. ?#countycricket?

@GeorgeDobell1
Ridiculous innings. Reminds me of Viv..

[Aidan11]

Like him or hate him - KP is box office.

[D/L]

"But I needed to get away from the schedule. I cannot keep playing every single day's cricket. I've never been looked after. I cannot keep playing every warm-up game, I cannot keep practising every single day. There comes a time when I know what I need to do to be successful. I've got a young family and I cannot be on the treadmill all day every day.

"I've said before that, if the schedule was right, if they could sort my schedule out, I would love to play for another three or four years in all forms of cricket. But the schedule at the moment is a nightmare."

Anybody else's heart bleeding for the poor fellow? Heaven forfend he should ever have to do some real work, five or more days a week, eight or more hours a day, for 40 years or more and be paid a damned sight less for doing so.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If we're going on the Dobell article, it doesn't look settled at all.

I'm very sympathetic to KPs scheduling. I think it's been rather insensitively managed.

[hopeforthebest]

This could be embarrassing for the ECB. If they agree to his return it will be claimed that they were weak. gave in and KP has won, if they don't agree they will be accused of being unreasonable or worse still vindictive.

His continued repetition of the phrase " they never looked after me" is pretty stupid.

[Making_Splinters]

My reply to KP returning to the fold is simply - So what?

He should not get in to the ODI side at present simply due to the performance of the incumbants.

He should not get into the T20 side unless he makes a formal guarentee that he is commited to playing for at least 4 years.

The ECB is in complete control just as they have been all along.

[backfootpunch]

maybe KP has realised with the top5 in odis playing so well that he wont be selected in that form and therefore if he comes out of retirement he can play t20s and will have the odis off anyway

[hopeforthebest]

This is a clever move by Pietersen, hoping to get public opinion on his side and hopefully a number of journalists. One wonders what the other members of the England squad will make of this.