The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[ddb]

Yeah, not really surprising though. But as Selvey said on twitter, not all contracts have to be done at the same time. It's been hard for a while to see him going to India.

[D/L]

Seems more like speculation than a leak.

"Flower is sure to want assurances that the batsman's agenda will not continue to fluctuate as it has done, and that the same situation will not arise in the course of a new contract."

That seems a very polite way of putting it!

[hopeforthebest]

The fact that all the newspapers are carrying s similar story suggests something has found it's way into the ether. I'm pretty sure Cook will do all he can to have KP available in India even by naming a smaller squad initially and leaving it possible to add KP later.

[rich1uk]

given whats happened over the last few weeks i cant see how they can give him a central contract, which basically commits the ECB to paying him for the next 12 months, and we all know what the ECB are like with money, until such time they have been able to see how he is received back in the dressing room.

i would be surprised not to see him being part of the tour squad for india and it would be how the off-field dynamics are when he is part of a squad for a pro-longed period like that which will be more important than anything that might be said over a conference table.

[OffStumpYorker]

I think KP will miss out on a full central contract this year, as you say rich they arnt going to pay him £4-500K to warm his sofa back in the UK, however an Incremental might be more of an option for both parties, as it give KP the opportunity for a Full IPL season, which is incidentally the last season before his current IPL contract is renegotiated. It also allows him to be reintroduced into the squad, possibly for the NZ tour in Feb/Mar or the ODI squad after Christmas.

This will allow the ECB to monitor his ire-integration into the dressing room, and for both sides of dressing room to reconcile over a couple of series with neither side feeling the pressure of having to save face. If all goes well and differences are reconcilled then there shouldnt be a problem with him regaining the Central contract in 2013 which I believe the PCA are currently in negotiations with the ECB over in terms of more freedom for Players to pick and chose which levels/series they play.

[rich1uk]

i'm not saying he wont get a central contract at some point for the next 12 months , just that it wont happen til after hes been back in a squad.

i think they have to pick him for india, whether hes got a central contract or not however, going there with potentially 3 inexperienced batsmen in the top 6 would be a mistake.

and as you say OSY the onus is on everyone, not just KP, to show that when he does come back into the dressing room that "team unity" actually means something.

[hopeforthebest]

I think KP will miss out on a full central contract this year, as you say rich they arnt going to pay him £4-500K to warm his sofa back in the UK, however an Incremental might be more of an option for both parties, as it give KP the opportunity for a Full IPL season, which is incidentally the last season before his current IPL contract is renegotiated. It also allows him to be reintroduced into the squad, possibly for the NZ tour in Feb/Mar or the ODI squad after Christmas.

This will allow the ECB to monitor his ire-integration into the dressing room, and for both sides of dressing room to reconcile over a couple of series with neither side feeling the pressure of having to save face. If all goes well and differences are reconcilled then there shouldnt be a problem with him regaining the Central contract in 2013 which I believe the PCA are currently in negotiations with the ECB over in terms of more freedom for Players to pick and chose which levels/series they play.

I find it difficult to believe that the ECB will offer him an incremental contract, I think it will be a full central contract or nothing. The stated aim has been that he must commit himself to play all forms of cricket and that means a central contract.

[D/L]

II see no reason why Pietersen should have to go to India. Some things are more important than results. Besides, a tour of India is a great way for an inexperienced middle order to get that vital experience. If we draw or lose the series, so what? With no DRS, the odds are stacked against us anyway.

A lot will hinge around Pietersen’s credibility viz à viz his most recently stated intentions. Who could now believe that he will stick to them?

[rich1uk]

sorry i was under the impression this was professional sport we were talking about where you play to win and not an afternoon at the local social club ...

[shankycricket]

Results are of course important and more important than anything else as long as we don't go against the rulebooks to acheive those results. Bringing back KP is certainly not against the law. Results are what the team is remembered for. 10 years down the line, not many will remember and moan about the KP saga and the specifics of it but a Test series win in India (which lets face it, is only a realistic prospect with KP) is something that will be cherished for years to come. I think we should be looking to give ourselves the best (and probably only) possible chance to win this upcoming Test series in India (whilst the Indian team is still in a period of transition) and that would mean picking KP. The next time we play a Test series in India, the Indian team might be a lot tougher prospect.

[Kim]

I find it difficult to believe that the ECB will offer him an incremental contract, I think it will be a full central contract or nothing. The stated aim has been that he must commit himself to play all forms of cricket and that means a central contract.

He wouldnt sign one anyway. An incremental contract essentially gives ECB full control of his movements and playing time - but all he gets in return is a smallish (50k) one off payment. No benefit to KP at all. Thats why Flintoff turned an incremental contract down. Incremental is essentially a cheap (for the ECB) central contract that gives them control of fringe players.

Presonal view is that if KP doesnt go to India we wont see him play for England again. Whether you agree with it or not, his non selection will mean theyve balanced up his playing ability against effect on "team unity" and decided, rightly or wrongly, that team unity comes first. And if it does, the longer he is out the less likely it is they will risk him being "disruptive" again, as the team "unites' round its new captain. If he doesnt go and they have any sort of success without him - even a drawn series - I cant see they would ever bring him back

[shankycricket]

I find it difficult to believe that the ECB will offer him an incremental contract, I think it will be a full central contract or nothing. The stated aim has been that he must commit himself to play all forms of cricket and that means a central contract.

He wouldnt sign one anyway. An incremental contract essentially gives ECB full control of his movements and playing time - but all he gets in return is a smallish (50k) one off payment. No benefit to KP at all. Thats why Flintoff turned an incremental contract down. Incremental is essentially a cheap (for the ECB) central contract that gives them control of fringe players.

Presonal view is that if KP doesnt go to India we wont see him play for England again. Whether you agree with it or not, his non selection will mean theyve balanced up his playing ability against effect on "team unity" and decided, rightly or wrongly, that team unity comes first. And if it does, the longer he is out the less likely it is they will risk him being "disruptive" again, as the team "unites' round its new captain. If he doesnt go and they have any sort of success without him - even a drawn series - I cant see they would ever bring him back

Thats not possible though.

[hopeforthebest]

I find it difficult to believe that the ECB will offer him an incremental contract, I think it will be a full central contract or nothing. The stated aim has been that he must commit himself to play all forms of cricket and that means a central contract.

He wouldnt sign one anyway. An incremental contract essentially gives ECB full control of his movements and playing time - but all he gets in return is a smallish (50k) one off payment. No benefit to KP at all. Thats why Flintoff turned an incremental contract down. Incremental is essentially a cheap (for the ECB) central contract that gives them control of fringe players.

Presonal view is that if KP doesnt go to India we wont see him play for England again. Whether you agree with it or not, his non selection will mean theyve balanced up his playing ability against effect on "team unity" and decided, rightly or wrongly, that team unity comes first. And if it does, the longer he is out the less likely it is they will risk him being "disruptive" again, as the team "unites' round its new captain. If he doesnt go and they have any sort of success without him - even a drawn series - I cant see they would ever bring him back

I'm not greatly convinced by this team unity thing, I think the media have over hyped it for there own purposes. There may have been resentment toward him because of the text messages but I don't believe the majority of players were so against him prior to that.
When I go though the players I can only see Swann and Anderson as perhaps a problem and at the end of the day it will be Flower who will judge whether he can work with him back in the squad.

[D/L]

...Whether you agree with it or not, his non selection will mean theyve balanced up his playing ability against effect on "team unity" and decided, rightly or wrongly, that team unity comes first. And if it does, the longer he is out the less likely it is they will risk him being "disruptive" again, as the team "unites' round its new captain. If he doesnt go and they have any sort of success without him - even a drawn series - I cant see they would ever bring him back

Yes, some things are more important than results and, contrary to what some may say, the Pietersen saga is more likely to be remembered in the future than the result of a test series in India, especially one played without the assurance of fair umpiring that DRS brings.

[Making_Splinters]

The Telegraph's article was put into fairly sharp focus by Cook's first comments on the issue as Head Captain of the side in which he quite simply said he wants the whole mess resolved in the next couple of weeks. One would suggest it might be rather churlish of the ECB to name either the cental contract list or the India tour squad before that period has passed.

Interesting to note that Cook has already said he knows the tour party he wants to take to India already, fairly simple to extrapolate from that to see that Cook has already decided whether or not he wants KP as part of England's future or not.