The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Kim]

Maybe the ECB leaked it. Was a story in the Sunday Times yestreday to the effect that its bec0ming increasingly clear that the KP saga is about money, not rest. If so Id assume the source of this clarity isnt KPs side.

This matter would dealt with by Hugh Morris who unlike KP always seemed a tight lipped individual.

When it suits Id imagine though.

[Making_Splinters]

The thing I don't get is how people are saying this is any sort of bargin - It isn't.

If the ECB were going to make any compromises they would have dones so when he first retired right now he has no chips left to play very much like the defeated general moving units round the map that don't even exist anymore.

KP isn't a valuable commodity without England, if you're a prospective sponser which is more valuable a player who is the start batsman of a side internationally or some freelancer bumming it round which every domestic competition that will hire him?

I genuinely don't think KP is daft enough for there to be any real substance in this story, Chineese whispers spring to mind.

As for the Moores KP saga, it had Flintoff's finger prints all over it.

[battingforbell]

As for the Moores KP saga, it had Flintoff's finger prints all over it.

I think you are looking for the wrong finger prints.

[hopeforthebest]

I presume the England squad for the test series are gathering together today and with the selectors poised to name the 30 for the T20 WC tomorrow or Wednesday, it seems too late for any compromise. Only a complete surrender by Pietersen can save the day, a very unlikely possibility.

[Making_Splinters]

As for the Moores KP saga, it had Flintoff's finger prints all over it.

I think you are looking for the wrong finger prints.

The whole motivation for actually presing ahead with what was ultimately a very good move for English Cricket was the suggestion that the dressing room would side with the captain over the coach, something that never materialised.

That bird in the captain's ear was Fred.

[OffStumpYorker]

As for the Moores KP saga, it had Flintoff's finger prints all over it.

I think you are looking for the wrong finger prints.

The whole motivation for actually presing ahead with what was ultimately a very good move for English Cricket was the suggestion that the dressing room would side with the captain over the coach, something that never materialised.

That bird in the captain's ear was Fred.

Freddy never really struck me as a machavelian mastermind though.

[sussexpob]

My question.....

Is it sensible/correct to leave out the previous player of the tournament in 2009, and arguably England's best ever ODI/T20 batter, when you have no one near his quality to replace him? The answer is obviously no. The small print is something I dont give two hoots about. If he wants to play and he makes the team much better, you play him.

The ECB should not have the right to question a players availability, and imo, the selectors job is to pick the best available team for any given match.... if a player makes himself unavailable then you dont pick him, if he is on form(and KP is) and he is clearly good enough to walk into the team, you pick him if available.

Its this "Team England" superiority complex that I really dont like about Flower's England team. I mean yes, I completely agree with central contracts and the new non-knee jerk loyalty that has allowed players out of form to stay in the team and become better players for it.... the England team is a solid unit.... but there needs to be compromise.

I mean Flower is the coach of the team, not a policy setter for the ECB, and certainly not the voice of the paying fans and public who pay their money to see KP over many others in the team.

I challenge any England fan, or any cricket lover, to tell me the sport of limited overs cricket is better without KP!!

As for the IPL thing, I also challenge anyone on this board to tell me they wouldnt want to have their cake and eat it. A player wanting his profession to pay the best wage at the expense of playing for country? I would, no doubt, think about limiting my test career to earn a million dollars easy money over a month... I doubt many of the moral crew here would too!

[Arthur Crabtree]

As for the Moores KP saga, it had Flintoff's finger prints all over it.

I think you are looking for the wrong finger prints.

The whole motivation for actually presing ahead with what was ultimately a very good move for English Cricket was the suggestion that the dressing room would side with the captain over the coach, something that never materialised.

That bird in the captain's ear was Fred.

England players said, you charge, KP, we're right behind you. And when Kevin looked round, there was no one there.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I agree with Sussex above. And I've been sympathetic to KPs position over many pages here. But I can't go as far as him absenting himself for the IPL period each year. And missing Tests. But I also don't believe the stories.

Nothing wrong with KP making himself available for the whole of the IPL. With best wishes from everyone who has enjoyed his huge contribution to English cricket. But then select another player in his place.

[sussexpob]

I agree with Sussex above. And I've been sympathetic to KPs position over many pages here. But I can't go as far as him absenting himself for the IPL period each year. And missing Tests. But I also don't believe the stories.

Nothing wrong with KP making himself available for the whole of the IPL. With best wishes from everyone who has enjoyed his huge contribution to English cricket. But then select another player in his place.

I think the available compromise is dont schedule tests that early in the summer, or have a worldwide window opened up by the boards so their players can play in the IPL. You dont see FIFA organising world cups while major domestic football competitions is on do you?

Every cricketer in the world should have the right to play in the IPL! There is too much personal gain and financial pressures to make people forget their pockets and wear their nations arm on the sleeve..... anyone in the England team who doesnt think this is probably a terrible T20 player!

There is too much international cricket.... take out the needless ODI series England have played this summer against Australia and move the start of the International calendar to later in the summer.

The laughable thing is, why is the ECB fine in whipping its players to death by playing as much international cricket to feed its own coffers that time allows, yet a player wanting to take on cricket that pays much better is an evil and disgustingly greedy thing?

Would you rather see a fat cat devalue the game by forcing tired players to play series that are total uninspiring for the sake of it, or see the real entertainers of the game get good consessions for the joy they give spectators?

[Arthur Crabtree]

We have too many ODIs. Most people would by content to see these reduced. But the IPL is played over the beginning of the English summer. So I don't know if it could be done. Especially, as some prominent days of county cricket need to be protected from coinciding with home international matches. But it's a reasonable idea.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Then the Champions League runs over the end of the summer!

[battingforbell]

As for the Moores KP saga, it had Flintoff's finger prints all over it.

I think you are looking for the wrong finger prints.

The whole motivation for actually presing ahead with what was ultimately a very good move for English Cricket was the suggestion that the dressing room would side with the captain over the coach, something that never materialised.

That bird in the captain's ear was Fred.

England players said, you charge, KP, we're right behind you. And when Kevin looked round, there was no one there.

Interesting but no. Flintoff supported Moores. There was a mysterious player who leaked the story in the belief that it would benefit KP. He was in mobile phone contact with KP. KP wanted to get rid of Moores and Flower he also wanted Vaughan restored to the side. If you remember Vaughan had fallen out with Moores prior to his resignation. The mysterious player was later identified as Vaughan. He never denied it.

[Kim]

They never identified who leaked the story. KP thinks it was Giles Clarke

[D/L]

It should be obvious that what we are seeing suggested here about the approach that the ECB should take is a recipe for anarchy and would probably lead to disharmony in the dressing room.

Flower has a right, nay a duty, to inform the ECB of his opinions on the matter. He has to manage any one day team into which Pietersen may return. He may already have a big enough problem in tests, managing the resentment that can arise from the presence of a prima donna in any dressing room.