The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[D/L]

It seems that performance is no longer measured on what you do on a field, but what you do off it. Without KP this team would not have achieved the levels it has, and dropping your most on form batsman, the best player you have ever produced in limited overs cricket and the best test match player in a few decades, is simply unforgivable.

I cant accept this decision at any level I am afraid. I will not be watching the 3rd test match, and I wont be lining the pockets of the ECB for the foreseeable future by attending matches that they compromise by playing under strength teams against under strength teams.

This is an utter shambles and until people behind the scenes are held accountable then I will no longer support English cricket.

All that would seem to suggest that you have knowledge of the precise nature of the allegations against Pietersen, sp. I can’t think of any other reason for such a strongly worded condemnation of the ECB, making no allowance at all for the possibility that Pietersen has seriously transgressed.

Perhaps you would care to share this knowledge with us?

[Robert]

Flower's a strong minded man who has principles. Another manager would live with the KP show but not Flower.

Nope - if Pietersen is as acute a narcissist as I suspect he is, then he'll eventually cause "problems" for any manager. He needs treatment.

[Dilbert]

The Swann issue, though some seem to think it strengthens a fairly weak defence of Pietersen, is a complete red herring.

How so? Doesnt it smack of double standards?

It’s refreshing that the ECB have ignored all questions of who is the greatest crowd puller in arriving at their decision. Perhaps, after all, money is not the sole arbiter of questions of right and wrong.

Fair enough, if thats their stand. But Pietersen apologised, agreed to play all formats, and tests against NZ but was still sacked.
And they didnt utter a single word against Swann.

Some people, of course, would not respond to the most skilled man managerment. Given his track record, surely it is not inconceivable that Pietersen falls into this category.

That arguement is correct. But my perception of all this is that Swann is "one of the lads" so is untouchable. Pietersen and strauss dont get along, Strauss was given captainship after stripping Pietersen off it, so obviously Strauss will not get along with him. ECB should have identified this long back and fixed it there. Seems like they didnt.

Some of the “arguments” used to defend Pietersen are becoming, unintentionally I’m sure, quite hilarious! Keep them coming.

To each his own I presume, people on the "oter" side think the same way to

[hopeforthebest]

It seems that performance is no longer measured on what you do on a field, but what you do off it. Without KP this team would not have achieved the levels it has, and dropping your most on form batsman, the best player you have ever produced in limited overs cricket and the best test match player in a few decades, is simply unforgivable.

I cant accept this decision at any level I am afraid. I will not be watching the 3rd test match, and I wont be lining the pockets of the ECB for the foreseeable future by attending matches that they compromise by playing under strength teams against under strength teams.

This is an utter shambles and until people behind the scenes are held accountable then I will no longer support English cricket.

How do you know England would not have been successful without KP? There's no way of knowing who might have played in the team and how successful he might have been.

As for you withdrawing your support fom England, I'm sure it will be greatly missed.

[meninblue]

Adi, the question is, who would you rather watch if you had to choose - Cook or KP?
Its not whether you would stop buying tickets if KP was dropped.

Thats the whole point - Lara, Sachin, Sehwag, KP, Gayle pull crowds.
Cook, Dravid, Chanderpaul dont do it the way Lara, Sachin, Sehwag, KP, Gayle do. Even if they are great players.

When Gayle wasnt there in the team, the WI fans didnt stop watching. But when Gayle came back, they were much more happier.

Another way to put it in context is - Lara, Sachin, Sehwag, KP, Gayle turn matches in a session. They terrorise, demoralise opposition, stamp their authority within a few overs. Cook, Dravid, Chanderpaul cant. They can bat for days, but dont change much in 1 session. They dont have that instant impact ability. Thats the difference

[ddb]

Flower's a strong minded man who has principles. Another manager would live with the KP show but not Flower.

Flower is positioned as a saint so are the ECB in the media, when both have acted poorly throughout this...Without the contract talks leak from the ECB would it have blown up as it has?

Btw

@mspr1nt: ECB has not made a formal approach to anybody in the SA team to see the texts sent by KP. - SA team manager

@mspr1nt: "Texts were received, but it was banter. We don't want to get involved in an issue that's nothing to do with us" - Dr Moose

[hopeforthebest]

Whilst listening to the sussex game yesterday one of the commentators remarked that John Etheridge of the sun had tweeted that in KP's video the words sorry and apologise were conspicuous by their absence. The only 'sorry' that iKP has is for himself.

[D/L]

The Swann issue, though some seem to think it strengthens a fairly weak defence of Pietersen, is a complete red herring.

How so? Doesnt it smack of double standards?

Superficially, perhaps, but this was for Swann's book and players often agree to swap insults in their books to boost sales.

It’s refreshing that the ECB have ignored all questions of who is the greatest crowd puller in arriving at their decision. Perhaps, after all, money is not the sole arbiter of questions of right and wrong.

Fair enough, if thats their stand. But Pietersen apologised, agreed to play all formats, and tests against NZ but was still sacked.
And they didnt utter a single word against Swann.

On the contractual front, perhaps the ECB were worried Pietersen would change his mind again and who could blame them? Re Swann, see above.

Some people, of course, would not respond to the most skilled man managerment. Given his track record, surely it is not inconceivable that Pietersen falls into this category.

That arguement is correct. But my perception of all this is that Swann is "one of the lads" so is untouchable. Pietersen and strauss dont get along, Strauss was given captainship after stripping Pietersen off it, so obviously Strauss will not get along with him. ECB should have identified this long back and fixed it there. Seems like they didnt.

Perceptions. perceptions...

Some of the “arguments” used to defend Pietersen are becoming, unintentionally I’m sure, quite hilarious! Keep them coming.

To each his own I presume, people on the "oter" side think the same way to

Fair enough!

[sussexpob]

It seems that performance is no longer measured on what you do on a field, but what you do off it. Without KP this team would not have achieved the levels it has, and dropping your most on form batsman, the best player you have ever produced in limited overs cricket and the best test match player in a few decades, is simply unforgivable.

I cant accept this decision at any level I am afraid. I will not be watching the 3rd test match, and I wont be lining the pockets of the ECB for the foreseeable future by attending matches that they compromise by playing under strength teams against under strength teams.

This is an utter shambles and until people behind the scenes are held accountable then I will no longer support English cricket.

All that would seem to suggest that you have knowledge of the precise nature of the allegations against Pietersen, sp. I can’t think of any other reason for such a strongly worded condemnation of the ECB, making no allowance at all for the possibility that Pietersen has seriously transgressed.

Perhaps you would care to share this knowledge with us?

In short D/L, I watch England test matches for enjoyment and to relax, the whole shambles created by this test match has overtook what has happened on the pitch and tainted what was suppose to be two of the best teams in the world fighting it out for supremacy. I watched 17 days of excellent sport played out in an air of pure competition, this in comparison is a joke and not worthy of its name.

This series has decended into a "who text who, who twittered who" load of BS that isnt sport. I feel as a fan that my favourite player isnt playing and that the reason is 100% not down to his ability.

As a fan I feel therefore that my interests have not been taken into account by the entity that people like me fund and for who's sole purpose is to look after the interests of the fans.... this isnt about the fans, its about the interests of people in the system.

I therefore will not be using my free time to watch anymore of it

[Dilbert]

Whilst listening to the sussex game yesterday one of the commentators remarked that John Etheridge of the sun had tweeted that in KP's video the words sorry and apologise were conspicuous by their absence. The only 'sorry' that iKP has is for himself.

Maybe he's not sorry for the texts after all !
After all, Swann never apologised to KP or Samit.

[Gingerfinch]

Flower's a strong minded man who has principles. Another manager would live with the KP show but not Flower.

Flower is positioned as a saint so are the ECB in the media, when both have acted poorly throughout this...Without the contract talks leak from the ECB would it have blown up as it has?

Btw

@mspr1nt: ECB has not made a formal approach to anybody in the SA team to see the texts sent by KP. - SA team manager

@mspr1nt: "Texts were received, but it was banter. We don't want to get involved in an issue that's nothing to do with us" - Dr Moose

Well, no and I accept all parties have acted like children at times but Flower is the boss and the ECB are above him. The truth is, KP has not for the first time, acted with petulance and IMO and has been rightly punished and I admire Flower for taking a stance.

[hopeforthebest]

This matter will be put to rest when Jonny Bairtow scores a magnificent double century enabling England to win the game.

[Robert]

Flower's a strong minded man who has principles. Another manager would live with the KP show but not Flower.

Flower is positioned as a saint so are the ECB in the media, when both have acted poorly throughout this...Without the contract talks leak from the ECB would it have blown up as it has?

Btw

@mspr1nt: ECB has not made a formal approach to anybody in the SA team to see the texts sent by KP. - SA team manager

@mspr1nt: "Texts were received, but it was banter. We don't want to get involved in an issue that's nothing to do with us" - Dr Moose

Well, no and I accept all parties have acted like children at times but Flower is the boss and the ECB are above him. The truth is, KP has not for the first time, acted with petulance and IMO and has been rightly punished and I admire Flower for taking a stance.

Not really much point in that to be honest - he needs treatment. Is that chap Bawden doing anything?

[D/L]

It seems that performance is no longer measured on what you do on a field, but what you do off it. Without KP this team would not have achieved the levels it has, and dropping your most on form batsman, the best player you have ever produced in limited overs cricket and the best test match player in a few decades, is simply unforgivable.

I cant accept this decision at any level I am afraid. I will not be watching the 3rd test match, and I wont be lining the pockets of the ECB for the foreseeable future by attending matches that they compromise by playing under strength teams against under strength teams.

This is an utter shambles and until people behind the scenes are held accountable then I will no longer support English cricket.

All that would seem to suggest that you have knowledge of the precise nature of the allegations against Pietersen, sp. I can’t think of any other reason for such a strongly worded condemnation of the ECB, making no allowance at all for the possibility that Pietersen has seriously transgressed.

Perhaps you would care to share this knowledge with us?

In short D/L, I watch England test matches for enjoyment and to relax, the whole shambles created by this test match has overtook what has happened on the pitch and tainted what was suppose to be two of the best teams in the world fighting it out for supremacy. I watched 17 days of excellent sport played out in an air of pure competition, this in comparison is a joke and not worthy of its name.

This series has decended into a "who text who, who twittered who" load of BS that isnt sport. I feel as a fan that my favourite player isnt playing and that the reason is 100% not down to his ability.

As a fan I feel therefore that my interests have not been taken into account by the entity that people like me fund and for who's sole purpose is to look after the interests of the fans.... this isnt about the fans, its about the interests of people in the system.

I therefore will not be using my free time to watch anymore of it

I think we’re all frustrated at the outcome of what is now a series of contretemps between Pietersen and the ECB, sp.

However, the assumption must be that the ECB have acted in the long term best interests of English cricket and such strong condemnation may be unfair.

I’ll still watch the 3rd test but, I have to say, when our second wicket goes down (probably about noon on Thursday if we’re batting first), there won’t be such a sense of anticipation of the batting to come.

[hopeforthebest]

From the John Etheridge column today'


England’s management gave the batsman the whole weekend to apologise for the texts he sent to South African players.
But he refused to admit he communicated with Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers, even though sleuths at the ECB believe they have proof of their existence.
The messages allegedly used a filthy Afrikaans word to describe England skipper Andrew Strauss and joked how easily Steyn could get him out. He also talked about head coach Andy Flower’s autocratic management style. "