The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm not suggesting Pietersen should be inked in for the first international of the summer (though that idea has merit). But I certainly don't think he shouldn't have the opportunity to be selected. This is what England have denied him twice. That feels both incompetent and a bit cruel.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Competing with county cricketers who have similar aspirations of England selection, but before that is the form of current England middle order batsmen. Can't see Ballance, Bell and Root getting dropped in a hurry.

Only thing KP can hope for is one of the England middle order suffers an injury and being the England qualified leading runscorer in County Cricket by the end of June.

KP isn't a county cricketer with similar aspirations. He is a player with a decade of international success behind him, who was blocked off for non cricketing reasons, and who was offered a return by cricketing means. Who met the ECB more than half way. I don't think anyone would suggest he should come back without reasonably deserving his place, even though he arguably didn't deserve to be sacked.

Anyway, the wheel goes around again.

And people think Hoggard and Harmison were treated badly...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Finally... maybe Powelly saying, how could KP expect a favour from Strauss, indicates that AS shouldn't be in his job. He has too much history with the team, and that has showed itself already. KP has been left out for non cricketing reasons, but will Cook continue as captain?

[Making_Splinters]

Finally... maybe Powelly saying, how could KP expect a favour from Strauss, indicates that AS shouldn't be in his job. He has too much history with the team, and that has showed itself already. KP has been left out for non cricketing reasons, but will Cook continue as captain?

Pretty much exactly sums up my thoughts on this.

[Making_Splinters]

One thing I simply can't understand is why England continually feel the need to say KP will never play again. They've been hammered for their reasons for this statement in the past, yet they continue to make the same mistake. It is oft said the definition of madness is to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result. We all know that England don't have a cricket based reason for dropping KP and to try it on when he's just smashed the highest domestic score in many a year underlines this firmly.

[Gingerfinch]

KP's book was the final nail in the coffin. We all know he was dropped and now not been selected for non cricketing reasons, but is that so wrong? Fergie ousted Stam for writing a book, and told Keane to go for publicly criticising his players. If it's good enough for him...

[sussexpob]

KP's book was the final nail in the coffin. We all know he was dropped and now not been selected for non cricketing reasons, but is that so wrong? Fergie ousted Stam for writing a book, and told Keane to go for publicly criticising his players. If it's good enough for him...

Keane had a second major injury in the year he left United, and had stated he was leaving the club at the end of his contract to join Celtic's coaching staff anyway.... he was utterly finished as a player, and only played a handful of subpar games for Celtic before leaving and ending his career..... there was no 326* moment.

Interesting you mention Stam, because Ferguson has since stated that selling Stam was probably his biggest error in his career. They got big money for a 30 year old with a bad injury record..... not sure the book had anything to do with it, and rumours where United already knew about the steroid taking that got him banned for most of his first year at Lazio.

[sussexpob]

KP's book was the final nail in the coffin. We all know he was dropped and now not been selected for non cricketing reasons, but is that so wrong? Fergie ousted Stam for writing a book, and told Keane to go for publicly criticising his players. If it's good enough for him...

Keane had a second major injury in the year he left United, and had stated he was leaving the club at the end of his contract to join Celtic's coaching staff anyway.... he was utterly finished as a player, and only played a handful of subpar games for Celtic before leaving and ending his career..... there was no 326* moment.

Interesting you mention Stam, because Ferguson has since stated that selling Stam was probably his biggest error in his career. They got big money for a 30 year old with a bad injury record..... not sure the book had anything to do with it, and rumours where United already knew about the steroid taking that got him banned for most of his first year at Lazio.

In fact, if you want a Man United example its David Beckham, who seemed to be sold because he was getting to big a star for the team.

Man United won the championship in 2003 when he left...... didnt win another one for 4 years. Hazard a guess the longest wait for a title win for United under Ferguson

Thats what getting rid of your best player does for you.

[Gingerfinch]

Keane was still a force in a weak Utd central midfield, sussex. Smith, Djemba Djemba, a young Fletcher etc were not a patch on Keane, even at that time. I reckon Fergie would have told KP there's no way back, like Strauss allegedly has. For me it's time we move on from the KP circus.

[Gingerfinch]

KP's book was the final nail in the coffin. We all know he was dropped and now not been selected for non cricketing reasons, but is that so wrong? Fergie ousted Stam for writing a book, and told Keane to go for publicly criticising his players. If it's good enough for him...

Keane had a second major injury in the year he left United, and had stated he was leaving the club at the end of his contract to join Celtic's coaching staff anyway.... he was utterly finished as a player, and only played a handful of subpar games for Celtic before leaving and ending his career..... there was no 326* moment.

Interesting you mention Stam, because Ferguson has since stated that selling Stam was probably his biggest error in his career. They got big money for a 30 year old with a bad injury record..... not sure the book had anything to do with it, and rumours where United already knew about the steroid taking that got him banned for most of his first year at Lazio.

In fact, if you want a Man United example its David Beckham, who seemed to be sold because he was getting to big a star for the team.

Man United won the championship in 2003 when he left...... didnt win another one for 4 years. Hazard a guess the longest wait for a title win for United under Ferguson

Thats what getting rid of your best player does for you.

And therefore go out and find a replacement. Who was that again?

[sussexpob]

Keane was still a force in a weak Utd central midfield, sussex. Smith, Djemba Djemba, a young Fletcher etc were not a patch on Keane, even at that time. I reckon Fergie would have told KP there's no way back, like Strauss allegedly has. For me it's time we move on from the KP circus.

Keane played 4 games in the season he left. He only played 10 games for Celtic in one and a half years, in a much lower standard = Finished. HE couldn't get through 90 minutes anymore, what the hell are you basing this on?

And therefore go out and find a replacement. Who was that again?

Can the ECB buy Mitchell Johnson or Dale Steyn? Regardless of who replaced him, United didnt win a league for 4 years after

[Gingerfinch]

Keane was still a force in a weak Utd central midfield, sussex. Smith, Djemba Djemba, a young Fletcher etc were not a patch on Keane, even at that time. I reckon Fergie would have told KP there's no way back, like Strauss allegedly has. For me it's time we move on from the KP circus.

Keane played 4 games in the season he left. He only played 10 games for Celtic in one and a half years, in a much lower standard = Finished. HE couldn't get through 90 minutes anymore, what the hell are you basing this on?

And therefore go out and find a replacement. Who was that again?

Can the ECB buy Mitchell Johnson or Dale Steyn?

Keane had injury issues but was still an important squad member, and still their best midfielder.

Bring in Taylor, Hales, or give some other young player a go. Getting rid of Beckham for 23 million, bringing in Ronaldo, who helped win them the CL, plus then selling him for 80 million was perhaps the best bit of business Fergie done. My point being, there's more to a team than one player.

[dan08]

Keane was still a force in a weak Utd central midfield, sussex. Smith, Djemba Djemba, a young Fletcher etc were not a patch on Keane, even at that time. I reckon Fergie would have told KP there's no way back, like Strauss allegedly has. For me it's time we move on from the KP circus.

Keane played 4 games in the season he left. He only played 10 games for Celtic in one and a half years, in a much lower standard = Finished. HE couldn't get through 90 minutes anymore, what the hell are you basing this on?

And therefore go out and find a replacement. Who was that again?

Can the ECB buy Mitchell Johnson or Dale Steyn?

Keane had injury issues but was still an important squad member, and still their best midfielder.

Bring in Taylor, Hales, or give some other young player a go. Getting rid of Beckham for 23 million, bringing in Ronaldo, who helped win them the CL, plus then selling him for 80 million was perhaps the best bit of business Fergie done. My point being, there's more to a team than one player.

We've all seen how well the team are doing without that one player...

[sussexpob]

All this simply reminds me of an episode of "the thick of it".

"Glen, did you tell Aggers that we said no??? We didnt say no, we said no, but we also said yes.... did you not tell them that we meant yes and no to him coming back.... oh sh*t, what we going to do....."

"Oli, you said we needed to say no though? When does no mean yes Oli? Do I have to wipe your backside for you? Oh no, here comes Malcom"

"What in christs green earth are you to ***** doing. Get on the ******** phone to that demented sugar puff Aggers and tell him when we said no, we mean yes! DO IT NOW you ***** ***** *********..... and get me a ******* curly wurly"

[budgetmeansbudget]

Well done Andrew Strauss, no messing, start how you mean to go on.

Nice picture Pietersen, on your way home after the innings yesterday, grinning away like a complete tit, its all about your image in the media, and your own massive ego. Sorry, you burnt all your bridges with the book, and I hope you never play for England again.