The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Gingerfinch]

If this was an isolated incident then I would be on KP's side but he's no doubt be testing the patience of some for a while now. I think it's a case of 'we've had enough'

[hopeforthebest]

This is the crucial sticking point fom Hugh Morris:

"A fundamental item was to confirm publicly that no derogatory texts had been sent by Kevin to the South African team. "

That says he had to speak in public about the texts not just behind closed doors. Maybe he would be willing to make an admission in private but balked at doing so in public. Presumably he believed his video would be sufficient but that clearly omitted a statement about these text messages.

[shankycricket]

If this was an isolated incident then I would be on KP's side but he's no doubt be testing the patience of some for a while now. I think it's a case of 'we've had enough'

Indeed! We've have had enough time at the No.1 spot in the test rankings. Lets gift it to another team by dropping our best player.

[Making_Splinters]

This is the crucial sticking point fom Hugh Morris:

"A fundamental item was to confirm publicly that no derogatory texts had been sent by Kevin to the South African team. "

That says he had to speak in public about the texts not just behind closed doors. Maybe he would be willing to make an admission in private but balked at doing so in public. Presumably he believed his video would be sufficient but that clearly omitted a statement about these text messages.

He just assumed the ECB would pass the message on, seems they have very selective information incontinence however.

He'll be back in the side in the near future.

[hopeforthebest]

If this was an isolated incident then I would be on KP's side but he's no doubt be testing the patience of some for a while now. I think it's a case of 'we've had enough'

Indeed! We've have had enough time at the No.1 spot in the test rankings. Lets gift it to another team by dropping our best player.

We gifted SA the number one spot when Pietersen threw his wicket away twice at the Oval.

[shankycricket]

Somewhat ignoring the fact that we'd have already officially lost the No.1 ranking had it not been for KP's innings. But hey, lets talk only about his failures.

[Gingerfinch]

Shanky

It's not about on the field stuff though. That's not an issue as far as the ECB's concerned.

[shankycricket]

Shanky

It's not about on the field stuff though. That's not an issue as far as the ECB's concerned.

Well, the last time I checked, a cricket match was played on the field.

[#Brown]

If this was an isolated incident then I would be on KP's side but he's no doubt be testing the patience of some for a while now. I think it's a case of 'we've had enough'

Indeed! We've have had enough time at the No.1 spot in the test rankings. Lets gift it to another team by dropping our best player.

It's nowhere near this simple.

This England side is not a team of all-time great players, they have achieved number 1 status through hard work and importantly a very strong, unified team-spirit. That has allowed them to become more than the sum of their parts, and whilst kp may very well be the biggest part, his inclusion in the unit now may well take more away then he can give. That's the judgement call they've made. No one wants him out of the team, they gave him every opportunity to do what was necessary and it hasn't happened.

Read Jimmy's column from yesterday and you get a feeling of underlying resentment for kp being so stupid, and so selfish at this of all times.

I'm a big kp fan, (I don't see how you can't be as a cricket fan) and he will be back, but I think the correct decision has been made. Probably won't make a difference to the result though.

[Gingerfinch]

Shanky

It's not about on the field stuff though. That's not an issue as far as the ECB's concerned.

Well, the last time I checked, a cricket match was played on the field.

Yep and last time I checked, it was a team game. Maybe the team harmony is being disrupted by KP, maybe it isn't? The point is, the ECB are not going to drop our best bat for no reason.

[Aidan11]

The thing is though, this issue regarding texts came about through a Daily Mail article from Lawrence Booth who did not quote any sources or any evidence for that matter. None of the texts can be provided as they have either been deleted or were never sent in the first place.

Can you imagine if this was a criminal case? I think the outcome would be that the CPS would drop the case for lack of evidence.

[#Brown]

If they were never sent in the first place he had every opportunity to deny it. He didn't even mention the issue in that brief statement he gave yesterday, which appears to say more about his guilt.

Jovial or not, I think the details will be disclosed at some point. Probably as Strauss is walking out to bat.

[Gingerfinch]

The thing is though, this issue regarding texts came about through a Daily Mail article from Lawrence Booth who did not quote any sources or any evidence for that matter. None of the texts can be provided as they have either been deleted or were never sent in the first place.

Can you imagine if this was a criminal case? I think the outcome would be that the CPS would drop the case for lack of evidence.

If my boss accused me of sending messages I shouldn't have and I hadn't done it then I like every other sane person in the world, would be denying it.

[shankycricket]

Shanky

It's not about on the field stuff though. That's not an issue as far as the ECB's concerned.

Well, the last time I checked, a cricket match was played on the field.

Yep and last time I checked, it was a team game. Maybe the team harmony is being disrupted by KP, maybe it isn't? The point is, the ECB are not going to drop our best bat for no reason.

I dont understand this term "team game". Whilst cricket is a "team game", it is still a bunch of individuals who form a team. And the team can do well only if the individuals do well. I dont see how a "team" can be a better than sum of its parts. A "united" team consisting of non performing individuals cant do well. And if you havent got the personnel, then "unity" and "harmony" doesnt fetch runs. Skill, hard work and talent is needed for that. KP possesses all the 3.

[hopeforthebest]

If Pietersen had been selected and during the test the contents of these texts were made public what effect they might have on the England dressing room. There was no way the ECB could allow such an eventuality to occur.

The way in which Hugh Morris couched his statement by saying Kevin has been dropped for this Lords test, suggests that the door for Pietersen remains open. How long it will remain open is another matter as the central contracts are up for renewal in a few weeks time.

Shanky KP is not only team member who's notched up 20 or more centuries.