The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Making_Splinters]

It is amazing how KP has come out on the moral high ground after everything that has gone on in his career.

[rich1uk]

it is quite interesting that a lot of the issues he fell out with the ECB over now seem to be getting taken seriously or being shown to be flawed

player burnout
the influence of t20 cricket on ODIs
the benefits of having players playing in the top level t20 leagues
focussing on improving skills
not relying on stats but encouraging players to think for themselves

[Making_Splinters]

Not to mention players being able to put the IPL over international commitments!

[backfootpunch]

it is quite interesting that a lot of the issues he fell out with the ECB over now seem to be getting taken seriously or being shown to be flawed

player burnout
the influence of t20 cricket on ODIs
the benefits of having players playing in the top level t20 leagues
focussing on improving skills
not relying on stats but encouraging players to think for themselves

the people in charge had an agenda against KP for quite a while

he never got rested not even for any of the meaningless ODI series despite asking strauss/flower, yet strauss got rested for the whole bangladesh tour

he was dropped and needed to be re-integrated after sending a private message to his friends in the SA team, whereas swann was allowed to slag KP off in his book and nothing was done

[Arthur Crabtree]

BBC headline.

Run Hungry Pietersen could return says Alec Stewart.

The Guardian headline:

Pietersen Outstanding, But Unlikely to Return for England says Alec Stewart.

[captaincolly]

BBC headline.

Run Hungry Pietersen could return says Alec Stewart.

The Guardian headline:

Pietersen Outstanding, But Unlikely to Return for England says Alec Stewart.

Brilliant!

[sussexpob]

BBC headline.

Run Hungry Pietersen could return says Alec Stewart.

The Guardian headline:

Pietersen Outstanding, But Unlikely to Return for England says Alec Stewart.

Probably leaks from different people

[Arthur Crabtree]

Pretty astute of KP to rebuff Gooch's criticism of him by pointing out that Gooch breaking a sporting boycott by playing in apartheid SA scarcely justifies him criticising Kevin for seeking an IPL contract.

Quite a lot of journalists seem to be now using Pietersen's book as the main reason he is no longer playing for England!

[Making_Splinters]

The whole thing is a mess, how easily this could have all be avoided if England had just dropped KP in the first place.

[Aidan11]

KP isn't going to go away.

Only England getting back the Ashes will shut the journos up but I can't see that happening.

[m@tt]

Quite a lot of journalists seem to be now using Pietersen's book as the main reason he is no longer playing for England!

Selvey described the ongoing saga as "wearisome" earlier. Sadly, he still doesn't see that it has become wearisome because several of the mainstream journalists, himself included, continue to boast that they know what went on, yet refuse to reveal to their readers why Pietersen *had* to be sacked.

If you've got unanswered questions, people will keep asking until they get a proper answer.

And no, whistling, looking out the windows, a supposed document of misdemeanours and book released 10 months after his last game do not count as proper reasons!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Selvey's doing the same to Monty now.

[hopeforthebest]

How many more revolutions of this KP saga must be made before you lot get as disinterested as I have.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Probably until he retires.

It's part of a bigger disaffection, with Flower, Moores, Cook and Downton, so if all of those went, some air might escape from the balloon.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Actually I think it'll hang around for decades. Grudges in sport can burn on for a long time. New situations will be likened to this one.