The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Making_Splinters]

For some who says that the ECB has to take action about this it seems a trifle strange that you'd quibble over the identity of the press' sources.

If you're not going to either accept or deny their accuracy then how can you suggest that KP should pay the price for it?

[Alviro Patterson]

My two pennies worth....

I think that the ECB are playing hard ball and trying to systematically destroy KP on the basis that they know, as well as us, that KP is the last stand they can make against the IPL. They have got dogmatic and entrenched because if they back out here, they lose the battle and have to admit the inevitable... that they will have to acknowledge the IPL exists and act accordingly.

This situation reminds me of the problems boxing is facing. Too many boards with too many separate motivations, and in the middle a spectating public paying the price of the politics with a decrease in quality in entertainment.

No cricket fan, hand in heart, can tell me that the Windies serious wasnt effected by a team heavily under the odds losing their best match winner of recent times... no one can tell me that New Zealand losing people like McCullum and Guptil next year will not effect that series, and you are clearly in need of medical attention if you think that England losing KP isnt the worst thing that could happen to their limited overs team arguably in the history of English limited overs cricket.

The writing is on the wall I am afraid.... just like boxing is being killed by UFC, so will test cricket if the respetive boards ignore player power and allow ignore the quality and entertainment gap that simply banishing quality players does to the sport. Regardless of the media war, its KP that fans are excited about and pay to see.... no amount of BS in the press and Andy Flower talking about team work can ignore that.

The interesting thing is that, with the IPL being probably the shortest major domestic sporting event of its size in the world held annually, surely expansion is coming.... you really think the extra weight and prestiege an expansion would bring couldbe ignored by players?

The next five years are going to be interesting.... either the ECB compromise now, or they face having their interests crushed by slow death

IPL suits other test nations because their season starts in October and ends in March, ECB are the only test nation who has a cricket season between April and September. Problem with compromising is the ECB have to fit 7 tests, 10 ODIs and 2 T20s between early June and early September. No chance of the international calendar reduced in size, ECB won't want to lose their revenue streams and there are 9 counties fighting for 7 test matches every year.

Loss of international matches equals lower payments to counties, less money to develop talented players, counties go bankrupt and English cricket regresses.

[greyblazer]

In West Indies matches would likely be held between April to sometimes even August. Along with NZ they are the worst hit as lots of their players play in the IPL and they don't have the money to match what the players get from IPL.

[greyblazer]

There was all this nonsense talk about how great Clarke is as he didn't go to the IPL and blah blah blah. Finally when he was offered a contract he too played. Any player especially if he is over 30 would love to make money by playing just 20 overs.

[Making_Splinters]

As D/L pointed out previously the IPL is not going to go away and because of the geographical quirks of this little island of ours it is always going to clash with at least the domestic season and probably the international season. While we could argue that England could make alterations to our timetable to minimise any potential clash, firstly we're locked into the current FTP to the end of the decade and secondly - as I'm sure many will point out - why should we?

Now I'm quite happy to say that under no circumstances should a foriegn domestic competiton take priority for any player over international matches. If they don't like that rule then they simply don't have to play for England. However the ECB should look to manage both the players workloads and their desires to play in the IPL, or slightly more simply any additional cricket played outside the international timetable should be factored into the players overall timetable.

I've long been at a loss why the ECB seem to make such a hash of dealing with the IPL, they have to remember that our T20 guys are going to be going over and playing on the World Stage a couple of times in the sub con this autum and winter and if we do well - I think we all hope that England do well - then it's going to drum up interest in them. The time for sitting back basking in our hubris should have been over years ago, let's hope all parties can grow up and act like professionals pretty blooy sharpish.

[KipperJohn]

There is a fundemental principle amongst all of this, which, if lost, forgotten, or allowed to wither and die, eventually leads to the wheels falling off anyway.

That principle, however 'old hat' or 'naive' is that it should be an honour and priviledge to be selected and represent England, in whatever format and against any opposition.

Even with contracts and so on, that principle underpins everything else - if it doesn't then English cricket will suffer it's greatest ever loss.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Below the line, Selvey suggesting the leaks did not come from the ECB, but not sure. Getting a rough ride from the punters.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 ... retirement

[Making_Splinters]

Below the line, Selvey suggesting the leaks did not come from the ECB, but not sure. Getting a rough ride from the punters.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 ... retirement

Might just be my tired eyes but he doesn't mention the leaks anywhere in that.

[Arthur Crabtree]

He returns in the chat below the line and suggests this. I think Selvey is mates with Flower, so maybe that is a factor.

[Arthur Crabtree]

No one leaked anything to me I can assure you. But some legitimate questions were asked and answered in response to KP's own announcement that he had retired from one day cricket.

I refer you to earlier comment.No one leaked anything to me,if indeed they ever did to anyone.

Again, no one leaked anything to me anyway. But when a press statement emerges in which we are told KP has retired from one day cricket, then I'm sure you will agree it is reasonable to ask legitimate questions as to the circumstances. Personally I was never told anything that could be interpreted as indiscreet. I cannot speak for others.

Honestly, I do not know for sure but I suspect and it wasnt ECB

It was pretty common knowledge that Andy hadn't seen it coming. Why would he?
And I asked a legitimate question in the circumstances ( of whom I'm not prepared to say) as to what demands he might have made ( natural and reasonable I would have thought when you get a statement saying that your leading batsman has suddenly announced his retirement) and was told that he made no such demands, just said he was retiring from ODIs forthwith. Sorry if you think that tittletattle. Not all conversations in any walk of life are on the record but it doesnt mean they are not legitimate. I have heard nothing of any subsequent negotiations there may have been.

No one has said to me he might not sign a new contract. For my part I have speculated in the past that if he was offered a Test only contract he might not want to sign it because he would perforce be expected to play all of the reduced amount of cricket for which he would be signing which would preclude a full IPL which, whatever he is now saying, is a fundamental part of his plans.

Selvey in the Guardian.

[Making_Splinters]

Utterly bizarre.

This was published today and he writes this:

It was pretty common knowledge that Andy hadn't seen it coming. Why would he?
And I asked a legitimate question in the circumstances ( of whom I'm not prepared to say) as to what demands he might have made ( natural and reasonable I would have thought when you get a statement saying that your leading batsman has suddenly announced his retirement) and was told that he made no such demands, just said he was retiring from ODIs forthwith. Sorry if you think that tittletattle. Not all conversations in any walk of life are on the record but it doesnt mean they are not legitimate. I have heard nothing of any subsequent negotiations there may have been.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Seems odd that he is cagey about asking questions after a press statement? And doesn't back up why the leak is unlikely to have come from the ECB.

[greyblazer]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricke ... tract.html

[Arthur Crabtree]

Seems unhelpful and idiotic stirring. I can't see the justification for that article. Selvey is being disingenuous as well.

[greyblazer]

Derek Pringle