The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[hopeforthebest]

Alec Ferguson would have him on the transfer list in double quick time.

[meninblue]

I don't buy the team unity thing.

Andy Cole & Teddy Sheringham didn't like each other at Man Utd. They still won loads of silverware. I have found that even in normal employment there will always be someone who doesn't get along with another, but as long as it doesn't get personal, there's no reason why they can't work in the same workplace in a professional manner.

If a manager is prepared to handle "awkward" team members, then fine. But he is under no obligation to do so - if he wants to rid himself of the distraction, then that is his right.

It is, but KP is a box office draw. One of our top players (who else can boast three test double centuries?). A case of cutting off the nose to spite the face.

Cook IMO

[Gingerfinch]

So KP doesnt get along with a few team members but he still performs? And the team members with whom he doesnt get along are not performing. So maybe those team members need to re- consider their professionalism. If KP can still perform, why cant they? It is not KP who is the problem clearly...

Hey?

He MAY not get along with Cook and he's performing.

At the end of the day, he IMO has been acting like a twerp of late and has rightly been dropped. Maybe Swann should have as well but that was a one off incident.

[Aidan11]

The England set-up knew what they were taking on with KP. He had spats with team members wherever he went. He's not perfect but English cricket needs someone like him.

[Dilbert]

So what Swann said (doubted KPs captaincy qualities), when both of them are teammates, still playing basically shows that he doesnt consider KP too highly.

Similarly, KP texts some unflattering things about Strauss, when both of them are teammates, still playing together.
Dont see the difference basically.

Or should he have said - "Strauss is a poor captain, out of form batsman but a great bloke to go out for a drink with"
Its the truth after all... and he would have said something good about him...

And what about Samit Patel? Its ok to say those things about him?

[Aidan11]

Alec Ferguson would have him on the transfer list in double quick time.

Not necessarily. He signed Eric Cantona. He also wanted Gazza but he preferred Spurs.

[shankycricket]

I don't buy the team unity thing.

Andy Cole & Teddy Sheringham didn't like each other at Man Utd. They still won loads of silverware. I have found that even in normal employment there will always be someone who doesn't get along with another, but as long as it doesn't get personal, there's no reason why they can't work in the same workplace in a professional manner.

If a manager is prepared to handle "awkward" team members, then fine. But he is under no obligation to do so - if he wants to rid himself of the distraction, then that is his right.

It is, but KP is a box office draw. One of our top players (who else can boast three test double centuries?). A case of cutting off the nose to spite the face.

Cook IMO

Can Cook play the sort of knock that KP did at Headingley?

[greyblazer]

So what Swann said (doubted KPs captaincy qualities), when both of them are teammates, still playing basically shows that he doesnt consider KP too highly.

Similarly, KP texts some unflattering things about Strauss, when both of them are teammates, still playing together.
Dont see the difference basically.

Or should he have said - "Strauss is a poor captain, out of form batsman but a great bloke to go out for a drink with"
Its the truth after all... and he would have said something good about him...

And what about Samit Patel? Its ok to say those things about him?

[Robert]

Alec Ferguson would have him on the transfer list in double quick time.

Yep - in a flash. The bloke has some form of narcissistic personality disorder - there are plenty of symptoms there.

[Gingerfinch]

Dilbert

So, in your opinion, KP and Swann both deserved to have been dropped?

[shankycricket]

So what Swann said (doubted KPs captaincy qualities), when both of them are teammates, still playing basically shows that he doesnt consider KP too highly.

Similarly, KP texts some unflattering things about Strauss, when both of them are teammates, still playing together.
Dont see the difference basically.

Or should he have said - "Strauss is a poor captain, out of form batsman but a great bloke to go out for a drink with"
Its the truth after all... and he would have said something good about him...

And what about Samit Patel? Its ok to say those things about him?

[greyblazer]

Dilbert

So, in your opinion, KP and Swann both deserved to have been dropped?

If you have 1 rule for a player than have the same rule for the other.

[Dilbert]

What I would like to understand from people who think it was right for KP to be dropped to ensure team unity etc, do you think Swanns comments in his bio were justified? Should he have been dropped too?

Maybe Yes, if he too has not followed team ethics.

But unlike Swann, KP had many issues. First with Moores, then with IPL contract, now with Flower and Strauss.

He used retirement from short format as gamble. When it foiled he did an Afridi. Then he sends sms during important series revealing the rifts within team to his opponents in middle of important tour. It's just not about one issue.

For the Moores saga, he was penalised, his captaincy stripped
I dont see any issues with IPL contract, his retirement and current issues with Flower and Strauss(allegedly)
He wants something, so he asked. They could have said no and ended it there.

Only issue is his texting about Flower and Strauss, which is something which Swann did in his book but got away scott free.
Which smacks of double standards to me.

[Aidan11]

I can't think that the Daily Mail would have printed the text story because KP is a South African playing for England.

[greyblazer]

Tbf if one goes on like this there won't be a single player left in the team. Just sort out whatever differences you have in a team meeting and play the best team.