The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Alviro Patterson]

It sound too idiotic to be true.

Even for the ECB.

Another dodgy leak lost in translation

[captaincolly]

Article is behind The Times paywall but a couple of key passages:
"graves ambition is to bring an end to the war of words with Pietersen. Had a KP recall become likely there was a fear that Cook...might have walked away from the test captaincy."

...it appears that the ECB has no attempt of choosing him even...( in the event of) losing the first two Ashes tests."

Wilde says that even if the ECB have no intention of picking him it would not stop " calls for his return if England lose to NZ and Australia"

Apparently Graves spoke to Cook before Cooky spoke to the media last week and that was why Cook was able to say a KP return was highly unlikely. "no realistic chance" are the words Wilde uses.

[Aidan11]

I'd love to see KP get a load of runs for Surrey (or whoever he joins) this summer

If England are struggling at the same time it would be hard to ignore him. The cricket journos will make sure of that.

[captaincolly]

I'd love to see KP get a load of runs for Surrey (or whoever he joins) this summer

If England are struggling at the same time it would be hard to ignore him. The cricket journos will make sure of that.

This is pure speculation but supposing KP has been told there's no way back into the England side,and he then decided to play in the IPL after all, he might be looking to play in our t20 competition. Surrey have apparently said they only want him if he plays in all formats and there were a few rumours that Somerset might be interested in him...could that be the big announcement the club are supposedly making this week?

Just a wild theory and the Sunday Times article does not support it because it is suggesting KP will play 4 day cricket for Surrey even though he won't be considered by England. That doesn't make sense to me but nothing does in this saga!

[Arthur Crabtree]

KP a mug if he plays CC under the present circumstances. Unless he loves the CC for its own sake of course.

[Aidan11]

I'm curious to know what Somerset are up to.

[braveneutral]

I am curious to know why the CC is not hailed as the premier competition in its format across the world. It should be considered I. The same vein of its English footballing counterpart.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm not critical of the CC. But given KPs time of life and his past record, it's not got much to offer him other than a way back into the England side.He hasn't any club loyalty to motivate him. He's succeeded at a higher level. It offers no financial benefit.

[braveneutral]

I don't think it really gives him a route back either.

[Aidan11]

I don't care if KP never plays again but I do want him to be an embarrassment to Paul Downton.

It was such a stupid thing to do by singling him out like that. they could have just kept picking him, wait for him to get a run of low scores then drop him on merit. Even the press would have been on the ECB's side then.

They've dug their own...er Graves over this.

[braveneutral]

They will go...

[captaincolly]

It'll all get sorted out when Piers Morgan replaces Graves as head of the ECB.

[andy]

he's too busy replacing Clarkson on top gear though

[Aidan11]

I thought he was going to be the new Dip-Stig.

[captaincolly]

he's too busy replacing Clarkson on top gear though

He'll have to multi task!