The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Kim]

How have they been chipping away at him all summer?

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'll have to refer you to my earlier posts Kim. I accept I'm in a minority here, though not on the internet generally. I responded once again to Yorker's seeming (to me) to suggest that KP was just reaping what he has sown. And also from a sense of fair play, and even sympathy to the player. But as I have nothing new to add, I probably should have just shrugged.

[Kim]

Fair enough. Dont know if youve read Steve James book, The Plan. Suggests quite strongly that his advisers/celebrity friends are a big part of his problems - wont go into detail here, but listening to Piers Morgan and reading his tweets, I can see part of his point. The captaincy wound still hurts as well apparently.

[Arthur Crabtree]

It's possible that my sympathy for Pietersen is influenced by my not knowing him! Opinions on a lot of this is influenced I think by the view taken of his wish to play IPL when he said he needed rest. I think two very different routes of opinion can be taken from that point.

[OffStumpYorker]

a_c, i do believe kp has been themaster of his own downfall to some extent.

i dont think anyone on here knows kp, so we make our own minds up, and tosome extent the hype around kp has been down to kp and his media people that were pushing for him to be put into the test team long before he was a twinkle in the selectors eyes.

ive never bought into the media portrait of players, as theres often a gulf between that and the reality which when somes star is at its zenith our wonderful media then shows us with much glee if im honesr.

i wont be suprised if kp hasnt already been approached by the redtops for the exclusive id be suprised.

i dont know what else the ecb could have done given the circumstances?

[D/L]

I think most peoples’ opinions are formed by what has been revealed about Pietersen’s behaviour over the last few days, whatever they thought about his saying he needed rest and the matter of the IPL.

[Aidan11]

Looks like we could have done with KP today.

[Arthur Crabtree]

i dont know what else the ecb could have done given the circumstances?

Rest him from some of his summer's ODIs. A not unreasonable request from which all this has snowballed.

[sussexpob]

So far the England first 4 wickets have scored a third of what KP did in the last tests first innings... we dont need him though.

[Alviro Patterson]

So far the England first 4 wickets have scored a third of what KP did in the last tests first innings... we dont need him though.

So far being the operative word

[sussexpob]

So far the England first 4 wickets have scored a third of what KP did in the last tests first innings... we dont need him though.

So far being the operative word

Not really.... said four batsman are out and arent going to score anymore runs.

[OffStumpYorker]

a_c, yes it could have been dine that way but there are other players that are just as deserving of a rest over kp, i believe swann has actually playrd more games than kp yet suggestions about resting hjm are met with derision and the response "but hes only a spinner".

kp apologists dont see this as double standards even though i do.

in the end and ive stated this many times no player is bigger than the team and no player is bullet proof.

[D/L]

So far the England first 4 wickets have scored a third of what KP did in the last tests first innings... we dont need him though.

Better to lose (or draw) without him than win with him, I reckon.

[Alviro Patterson]

So far the England first 4 wickets have scored a third of what KP did in the last tests first innings... we dont need him though.

So far being the operative word

Not really.... said four batsman are out and arent going to score anymore runs.

126 of KPs 149 runs were scored in middle order partnerships with Bell at 5, Taylor at 6 and Prior at 7. Still time and the personnel for Ian Bell to carry the bat.

[Arthur Crabtree]

a_c, yes it could have been dine that way but there are other players that are just as deserving of a rest over kp, i believe swann has actually playrd more games than kp yet suggestions about resting hjm are met with derision and the response "but hes only a spinner".

kp apologists dont see this as double standards even though i do.

in the end and ive stated this many times no player is bigger than the team and no player is bullet proof.

I think Swann deserves the same consideration ,and I've said that throughout. I think all senior players, who play all formats should have a lot of leeway.