The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Aidan11]

This is more ECB v KP rather than Flower v KP.

[Robert]

This is more ECB v KP rather than Flower v KP.

Nope - this is very much Pietersen v Flower. Flower is a quintessential team man - I think he actually said "all my players are special". Pietersen (self-absorbed, mercenary egotist) is basically assaulting that team ethos with his demand for special treatment.

[sussexpob]

I think this ongoing issue continues to highlight the lack of man management skills that the ECB have displayed.

I read an interesting article on Cricinfo today that basically said that it is confirmed someone "close to several players" was behind the Twitter account, and that a few players were following the spoof account. If anyone had any sense then surely it should have resulted in those players shutting down their links to the page?

Also, if find it strange that the ECB assisted in shutting down an Ian Bell parody, but have said in regards to KP that it is easily identified as a parody, so will allow it to continue as harmless.... smacks of favourtisim? Not even passing a mandate to distance the players from it??? If the ECB had no regards to Twitter and what goes on there in this isntance, then why did they fine KP for making a statement about Nick Knight which I feel he was both (a) correct in saying (b) was hardly worth disciplinary action as a result!

it all targets to a "one rule for one, one for another" kind of man management... and regardless of the net effects in real terms, bullying is bullying if subjectively the victim makes that connection. KP is feeling bullied and the response should have been to sort out the steps, not to further isolate or distance him.

People talk about ego's, but behind every KP there is often a man who lacks confidence or needs to be managed in a certain way... its part of good management that you identify those players that require a different approach. It seems in this instance the management have ignore this.

[greyblazer]

It looks like one of us is inside that dressing room After a rough start in 09 the only time there seemed to be a misunderstanding between KP and Flower was after the 2011 WC. Flower shouldn't have criticised KP publicly otherwise there doesn't seem to be a huge problem between them.

[m@tt]

The closure of Twitter accounts is down to Twitter. If an account is a parody, it must state it clearly, regardless of the nature of the tweets.

For instance, there is a hilarious parody account of football manager Sam Allardyce. Originally, it didn't state it was a parody even though it was clearly one by the nature of the tweets. Allardyce found out and got it closed down - it lead to a big campaign to get it back, as it was pretty popular and the campaign even trended on Twitter. The account was reinstated when the user agreed to clearly mark it as a parody account which he has now done.

The KP Genius account is clearly marked as a parody. I can only presume that the Ian Bell one wasn't.

[hopeforthebest]

This is more ECB v KP rather than Flower v KP.

That may have been true before Pietersen started on about "dressing room issues" but that changed the dynamics of the situation.

[meninblue]

One point no one has considered is the position of Andy Flower in all this. If it comes down to a choice between Flower going or Pietersen, where do you stand? It may well come down to that choice, after all the dressing room is his domain.

I do agree that a coach is very much important person in the team and he can influence more than a player can influence the team.

[sussexpob]

The closure of Twitter accounts is down to Twitter. If an account is a parody, it must state it clearly, regardless of the nature of the tweets.
For instance, there is a hilarious parody account of football manager Sam Allardyce. Originally, it didn't state it was a parody even though it was clearly one by the nature of the tweets. Allardyce found out and got it closed down - it lead to a big campaign to get it back, as it was pretty popular and the campaign even trended on Twitter. The account was reinstated when the user agreed to clearly mark it as a parody account which he has now done.

The KP Genius account is clearly marked as a parody. I can only presume that the Ian Bell one wasn't.

The Big Sam twitter page was closed on the threatening of court action from Big Sam because the name of the account could cross over to the actual man and the nature of the parody and subjects it mentions combined with the name would make dim people mistake it for the real man. The new account was called "Not the Big Sam", which was obviously the big difference..... it specifically therefore related to comedy and not to the man in question, which is a large legal distinction.

Also Twitter do not decide on what gets shut down.... usually it is court injunctions after claimaints have filed for an offensive site to be terminated... in KP's case the parody was deemed harmless and the ECB would not act on his behalf, in Ian Bell's case the ECB asked its representatives to pursue legal injunctions through twitter to close it down.... interesting crossing of opinions I would say.

[Arthur Crabtree]

it all targets to a "one rule for one, one for another" kind of man management... and regardless of the net effects in real terms, bullying is bullying if subjectively the victim makes that connection. KP is feeling bullied and the response should have been to sort out the steps, not to further isolate or distance him.

People talk about ego's, but behind every KP there is often a man who lacks confidence or needs to be managed in a certain way... its part of good management that you identify those players that require a different approach. It seems in this instance the management have ignore this.

Absolutely agree with this. And while this lesson is not learned, or even acknowledged, the same things will continue to happen.

[yorker_129-7]

I see Botham has been "calling for an end to the dispute with KP".

Helpfull as ever.

Next week in "Diplomacy, Beefy style" Ian Botham asks Israel and Palestine to "just get along".

[sussexpob]

I see Botham has been "calling for an end to the dispute with KP".

Helpfull as ever.

Next week in "Diplomacy, Beefy style" Ian Botham asks Israel and Palestine to "just get along".

[Kim]

I see Botham has been "calling for an end to the dispute with KP".

Helpfull as ever.

Next week in "Diplomacy, Beefy style" Ian Botham asks Israel and Palestine to "just get along".

Though he wouldnt "ask", he would "roar"

[Arthur Crabtree]

Nice one!

Can he call for Gideon Osborne to sort out the economy while he's at it?

[KipperJohn]

So it's really tough being an England international cricketer/ I'm sure it is, but there is no doubt that they are, by some distance the most well-looked after players in English cricket's history. Travel, accomodation, facilities, pay,sponshorship, diet, coaches for batting, bowling, fielding, sports psycholigists - some have their own agents.

The ECB's set up from youth to international level is the best it's ever been.

I can hear Fred (T) now talking about lugging his gear and size 12 boots around Australia - Cowdrey's first tour when his dad died was by ship- he did press-ups on deck to keep fit.

And don;t tell me there weren't spats in the dressing rooms in those days - you wouldn't have wanted to drop one off Fred!

Twitter account - don't make me laugh!!

[Aidan11]

It's now alleged KP has been texting SA players slagging off Strauss and other England players.


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