Kevin Pietersen's Autobiography.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Except he didn't want to stop playing for England. So he didn't come out of it well at all. He wanted to carry on playing. It was the ECB who wanted rid of him. It was by mutual agreement once the ECB told him he would no longer be considered.

[Aidan11]

Journos are starting to tweet about the book, so maybe bn can give us some insights now?

All I can say so far is that Cook is coming out well but this is because he is referred to by picture code in the book which has not yet been broken.

When I am on a more friendly device I can attach said image but it is said to be a cartoon character from a long running American show with a similar name.

The Simpsons?

[Gingerfinch]

Ned???

[Arthur Crabtree]

Journos are starting to tweet about the book, so maybe bn can give us some insights now?

All I can say so far is that Cook is coming out well but this is because he is referred to by picture code in the book which has not yet been broken.

When I am on a more friendly device I can attach said image but it is said to be a cartoon character from a long running American show with a similar name.

He's called Ned Flanders in the dressing room apparently. KP says Cook is a nice bloke but is critical of the captain not speaking up for him in the meeting in which he was dismissed. And he claims that he was very supportive of Cooky on the tour. He repeats the well known story about him not thinking they should do fitness training at the end of the tour, but he omits (so I guess denies) that they fell out.

[Gingerfinch]

Ned because he's left handed, I presume?

[rich1uk]

Journos are starting to tweet about the book, so maybe bn can give us some insights now?

All I can say so far is that Cook is coming out well but this is because he is referred to by picture code in the book which has not yet been broken.

When I am on a more friendly device I can attach said image but it is said to be a cartoon character from a long running American show with a similar name.

cook and flower after KP was sacked ?

[sussexpob]

Legally he wasn't sacked, his contract was terminated by mutual agreement and KP came out of it rather well.

Answer me this......

If KP had done wrong enough to warrant termination of his contract, why was their a "mutual agreement" that the offender came out "pretty well" under? Not sure many employees get taken into the room for a disciplinary and are told, "Hey mate, you have been terrible and we have to sack you, but first we need to know if you will take 6 months of pay and silence, or less to be sacked"????

If anything the very fact that the ECB couldnt legally sack him, but still went to lengths to get rid of him by agreement, shows something was up. If KP had nothing on them then why didnt they just drop him from every single squad and put it down to trust in new players, and past form? His form wasnt great, his knees were playing up, and he is no spring chicken.

They only had to wait a few months before his contract was up.

If KP got more than he would have been paid for being dropped, then surely that is evidence of culpability from the ECB's part?

[Aidan11]

[Arthur Crabtree]

Of course, if Cooky thought KP should go, he had no reason to speak up for Kevin. My impression is that he didn't participate either way: tell KP he wasn't wanted, or defend him. Some may feel that is weak. I'm not sure it is.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Surely KP negotiated that agreement so he could play in the IPL, Sussex. The ECB were happy to allow him to get him off their hands. But it can't be said to have truly been in his interests, because he wanted to carry on his international career.

Have I forgotten something here? Maybe a dog barking in the night time?

[Aidan11]

Presumably Matt Prior is Homer Simpson?

[Aidan11]

Giles Clarke fancies himself as Fat Tony.

[Arthur Crabtree]

On a different note, KP reprints an email in full, two pages in length, from Rahul Dravid on how to play spin. Should be interesting.

And in the controversy, most are overlooking that there are nine years of international cricket to look back on. Including two sensational Ashes wins (plus a rather dour one), the win in India, his head to head with Murali in 2006 and 23 hundreds.

[hopeforthebest]

Except he didn't want to stop playing for England. So he didn't come out of it well at all. He wanted to carry on playing. It was the ECB who wanted rid of him. It was by mutual agreement once the ECB told him he would no longer be considered.

Compton and Carberry wanted to carry on playing for England and many more want to play for England, just wanting doesn't mean the Selectors are obliged to agree. You keep laying all this at the door of the ECB but it Downton, Cook and Whitaker, who represent the playing side of cricket England not the ECB board who stood in judgement.

[sussexpob]

Surely KP negotiated that agreement so he could play in the IPL, Sussex. The ECB were happy to allow him to get him off their hands. But it can't be said to have truly been in his interests, because he wanted to carry on his international career.

Have I forgotten something here? Maybe a dog barking in the night time?

It was an unwanted benefit of being released, but I dont see at as KP wanting to bring that to the table. For a start, Flower wouldnt have done him a favour like that, and the ECB couldnt risk losing a high profile player and agreeing to terminate a central contract, to join IPL. That would have sent alarm bells ringing for the future.

The ECB could have blocked him playing IPL and dropped him forever without a sniff. The fact their was a negotiation when both sides clearly had fallen out drastically, to me anyway, suggests someone had culpability to protect if it ended up being blown around other forums.