The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Kim]

have to say i agree with Nick Knight and Robert Croft.....the KP issue is getting ridiclous, he has retired ECB wont change their stance life goes on...

They say its ridiculous and life goes on. But they are still talking about it and not letting life go on, arent they?

[D/L]

Sussex, thats a load of BS...

It certainly seems a very jaundiced view of the ECB, who are only doing what they can to try to preserve the number and the quality of test matches played during our short summer. Over here, we should all hope they succeed.

Jealousy as motivation seems rather fanciful. “Biggest cricket tournament in the world”? No, it may be the most lucrative, but it is still a domestic tournament peddling an ersatz brand of cricket.

[shankycricket]

I hope sussexpob wasn't one of Kevin's "people" advising him.

Kevin Pietersen might claim he owes the Counties or England nothing. He wasn't educated here. He wasn't picked for under-19s or England A. He didn't benefit (much) from the County system. Unlike Cook, Bell, Strauss, Prior and all the rest. I include Trott because he says he owes everything to Warwickshire. The County system produces cricketers. Bell was under the wing of Warwickshire aged 10. The Test money is payback time for all that nurturing.

Nevertheless England gave KP his chance. He bought into the team ethic, tattoos the lot. Now another country has come calling. The IPL isn't an international competition, it is an Indian domestic league. Of course ECB wants England players to play for England rather than an Indian team. In your free time why not? But Kev wanted to barter Test matches for full IPL season.

Never mind the principles of loyalty, does KP really think the IPL is a better preparation for the Ashes than a Test Series? India stars came hotfoot from the IPL and didn't make 300 runs.

It's not just brainless, it is shameless. Why is sussexpob quoting from the football Premier League which is crushing English football under its boot? It would horrify me if England cricketers were paid similar wages to Man United footballers. I want them rewarded handsomely but not obscenely. The IPL is Show Biz Extravaganza. But the cricket is quite tedious. Test cricket is one of the glories of world culture. New Zealand might be struggling but I really enjoyed watching their recent Series against Australia and was overjoyed when they won a match. Likewise I was glued to the West Indies v India Test Series.

Come on Kev. You are a better cricketer than t20 gladiator. You won't find the hard yards in the IPL. The real challenges lie elsewhere. Change your advisors for a start.

[shankycricket]

http://www.mikeatherton.co.uk/2012/kps- ... Yk.twitter

[Kim]

http://m.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/piete ... 232vf.html

[D/L]

Seems a good gig for a dumb slog millionaire.

[greyblazer]

The speculation surrounding KP never seems to end right

[hopeforthebest]

If this is true, where does his interest in the ashes series next summer come in his pecking order of priorities? It would indicate he's paving the way for turning down any contract with the ECB and becoming freelance.

[shankycricket]

Ok, so the IPL is too good to resist. Now he wants to play the BBL too? And then he complains about the England schedule...

[Robert]

Ok, so the IPL is too good to resist. Now he wants to play the BBL too? And then he complains about the England schedule...

You almost sound surprised! I say let him whore himself out to the hit & giggle franchises, but no central contract.

[meninblue]

He is securing his future financially by playing in IPL and Big Bash. It seems to me that he would even play in SriLanka's and Bangladesh T20 tournaments within next two years or so.

[Alviro Patterson]

Somehow I can't see 50,000 Australians chanting KPs name, would love it if Mitchell Starc bowled KP out 1st ball in the Big Bash.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Can't see the money being as good as playing for England.

Last time KP was in Australia, he gave money and equipment to be raffled to the Queensland disaster fund and spoke about how sorry he was for those who suffered. He still got booed to and from the crease by the home supporters!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Incredible and priceless experience for Taylor to bat with KP today and see close up what it is all about. Shows the value of keeping experienced players around the team.

[from_the_stands]

Somehow I can't see 50,000 Australians chanting KPs name, would love it if Mitchell Starc bowled KP out 1st ball in the Big Bash.

I could... "KP's a ... [insert a noun begining with "W"]." I remember sitting in bay 13 as a kid listening to quite a few more than 50,000 folks chanting to a certain New Zealand strike bowler, who was simply too good for us.