Kevin Pietersen's Autobiography.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Interview with one of KP's more sympathetic journalists on cricinfo.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... 87933.html

[sussexpob]

We've run out of steam before the book is on sale?

Clearly Ricky might have an agenda, but the view of an opposition skipper is relevant as KP mentions that opposing players remarked upon the 'bullying'.

Well, as far as I am concerned, I can remember England sledging or on and off field conduct being flagged by quite a few captains.

Jaywardene, Dhoni, Clarke, Smith, Ponting, Sammy have all made comments in the last few years about Anderson. I remember Anderson screaming at Stephen Fleming a few years back as well, that didn't impress Fleming at the time.

I don't think you have to look much past some of our on field conduct when bowling to see their is a clear attitude problem from some people. Anderson was a disgrace in the recent India series, and more than a few times held back to sledge batsman when time was called on play.

I would probably say England would finish somewhere near last in a cricket popularity contest.

[Aidan11]

The Aussies might call it Internal Mental Disintegration.

[Arthur Crabtree]

While I think you're spot on Sussex, I don't think that's what KP was talking about. England are unpopular and their lack of professionalism regarding behaviour is shameful. But it's no different from SA or Australia. KP (and Ponting) is talking about a lack of care and acceptable behaviour within the side, to each other.

[Gingerfinch]

I wonder if KP elaborates on the 'picking on' in his book? If not, then why bring it up?

[Arthur Crabtree]

The Aussies might call it Internal Mental Disintegration.

Nice one. A side should at least be united within the sight of the opposition.

[Aidan11]

Bob Willis has his say.

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... s-comments

[budgetmeansbudget]

Alot of bowlers, especially fast bowlers, around the world berate fielders when a catch is missed or a second run isn't prevented. Why is this being flagged up as bullying in the England camp and disharmony in the face of the opposition? Pot stirring by the sounds of it.

[sussexpob]

Alot of bowlers, especially fast bowlers, around the world berate fielders when a catch is missed or a second run isn't prevented. Why is this being flagged up as bullying in the England camp and disharmony in the face of the opposition? Pot stirring by the sounds of it.

Lets take the most extreme of cases I can think of.... Trent Bridge 1998, Allan Donald. When Boucher shelled that catch Donald's reaction was one of aggression and pure emotion. I doubt that Boucher at that moment wanted to ever go back to the dressing room. Halfway through the next over Donald, after calming down, run all the way from the boundary in between deliveries to give Boucher a friendly pat on the back. I think that was the difference, his initial reaction was controlled by emotion, but he had a few mins to control himself and deemed it necessary to make sure his wicketkeeper knew in the long run there was no bad feelings.

While I think you're spot on Sussex, I don't think that's what KP was talking about. England are unpopular and their lack of professionalism regarding behaviour is shameful. But it's no different from SA or Australia. KP (and Ponting) is talking about a lack of care and acceptable behaviour within the side, to each other.

Is it no different? The worst I can think Clarke was involved in saying was in direct response to Anderson telling his short leg he was going to punch him in the face. Didn't Anderson also have a rather unsavoury conversation with Brad Haddin? The famous Mitchell Johnson remark when he gets out next ball was also in response to Anderson constantly chirping. Johnson himself had said in 2010/11 that he had only started sledging English batsman because they were being brutal to Australia in response.

In fact, I very much think that Australian media aggression towards the team last series was a direct result of England's behaviour in previous series, both against other teams and themselves. I think this behaviour is directly relevant to our in house behaviour, as such an on field attitude is reflective of those people that show it. If you have a problem controlling your team on the field, no doubt you have problems controlling the same people off it.

Anderson has gradually become intolerable to watch on the field, huffy, and resorts to nastiness when things don't go his way.... its clearly indicative of his personality, and the Jadeja and KP things about him and others off the field are producing a lot of smoke, so I cant see there being no fire.

[Aidan11]

KP having a bit of a twitter debate over the fake KP account at the moment.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Alot of bowlers, especially fast bowlers, around the world berate fielders when a catch is missed or a second run isn't prevented. Why is this being flagged up as bullying in the England camp and disharmony in the face of the opposition? Pot stirring by the sounds of it.

I think normally, the fielder puts a hand up and the bowler kicks the floor and that's it. Pietersen is describing:

1. A formal, compulsory apology system enforced by the bowlers
2. But which doesn't extend to the bowlers.
3. That the fielders were shouted at by the bowlers, to the point where Trott said he was reluctant to field the ball.
4. And where, when the fielders complained, the bowlers demanded and apology...

[Gingerfinch]

Alot of bowlers, especially fast bowlers, around the world berate fielders when a catch is missed or a second run isn't prevented. Why is this being flagged up as bullying in the England camp and disharmony in the face of the opposition? Pot stirring by the sounds of it.

I think normally, the fielder puts a hand up and the bowler kicks the floor and that's it. Pietersen is describing:

1. A formal, compulsory apology system enforced by the bowlers
2. But which doesn't extend to the bowlers.
3. That the fielders were shouted at by the bowlers, to the point where Trott said he was reluctant to field the ball.
4. And where, when the fielders complained, the bowlers demanded and apology...

Swann has said that denied that happened. Who to believe?

[budgetmeansbudget]

Alot of bowlers, especially fast bowlers, around the world berate fielders when a catch is missed or a second run isn't prevented. Why is this being flagged up as bullying in the England camp and disharmony in the face of the opposition? Pot stirring by the sounds of it.

I think normally, the fielder puts a hand up and the bowler kicks the floor and that's it. Pietersen is describing:

1. A formal, compulsory apology system enforced by the bowlers
2. But which doesn't extend to the bowlers.
3. That the fielders were shouted at by the bowlers, to the point where Trott said he was reluctant to field the ball.
4. And where, when the fielders complained, the bowlers demanded and apology...

Swann has said that denied that happened. Who to believe?

Something in between i'd wager.

Formal apology system sounds like something you'd have in place at a tough public school. Jimmy Anderson went to the local compy didn't he?

[hopeforthebest]

I think bowlers get more upset when they have a batsman in trouble and piece of sloppy fielding allows him to get off strike. I can't remember many instances where a bowler has really gone over the top for a dropped catch, although I've seen Cook pull some pretty awful faces when one's gone down. What happens off the field is something none of us know anything about.

[hopeforthebest]

Alot of bowlers, especially fast bowlers, around the world berate fielders when a catch is missed or a second run isn't prevented. Why is this being flagged up as bullying in the England camp and disharmony in the face of the opposition? Pot stirring by the sounds of it.

I think normally, the fielder puts a hand up and the bowler kicks the floor and that's it. Pietersen is describing:

1. A formal, compulsory apology system enforced by the bowlers
2. But which doesn't extend to the bowlers.
3. That the fielders were shouted at by the bowlers, to the point where Trott said he was reluctant to field the ball.
4. And where, when the fielders complained, the bowlers demanded and apology...

When Trott says that in public it will then be true, till now it's hearsay.