Kevin Pietersen - would you pick him ?

[fundy]

Hopefully England's loss will be Surrey's gain and I reckon if he can get some big scores in the league and with England struggling in the summer the ECB will come back to him

Thats up for grabs, he has no Surrey contract technically (it was tied fully to his England contract). Hopefully it will be resolved and he will play at least part of the county season (obviously he will play the whole IPL this year, not to mention the Big Bash in January next yr)

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Hopefully England's loss will be Surrey's gain and I reckon if he can get some big scores in the league and with England struggling in the summer the ECB will come back to him

Don't hold your breath on either score. Really do not expect him to play too much domestic cricket outside T20 with his injury problems.

Certainly don't see ECB going on bended knee, no matter what the results.

 

[fundy]

http://www.kiaoval.com/want-kp-playing-surrey/

 

[Deleted member 18588]

http://www.kiaoval.com/want-kp-playing-surrey/

See nothing in that link to change my mind.

After all from KP's point of view, why would he want to play a County Championship game in front of one man & his dog at Grace Road when he could be resting his knees to ensure he stays fit for very lucrative pub cricket, sorry I meant T20, all around the world, including for Surrey in England.

He could make a fortune doing the latter and I, for one, would not begrudge him the opportunities. Why risk it?

 

[freddielong]

When does being nice matter more than ability, if you want to try to win you pick your best team so you pick him, if you want to be nice you don't pick your best team and you lose.

 

[fundy]

See nothing in that link to change my mind.

After all from KP's point of view, why would he want to play a County Championship game in front of one man & his dog at Grace Road when he could be resting his knees to ensure he stays fit for very lucrative pub cricket, sorry I meant T20, all around the world, including for Surrey in England.

He could make a fortune doing the latter and I, for one, would not begrudge him the opportunities. Why risk it?

link wasnt there to change your mind just to share the info that was available. Clearly Surrey want KP (why wouldnt they) but affording him in the salary cap and fitting it around the other offers not as easy (obviously IPL and possibly Caribbean T20), like you I expect we see very little of him, shame as would happily head to the Oval if knew he was playing in a 50 over or 4 day county game

 

[Foxholer]

If they use pietersen as a scape goat for the winter then they are idiots, gooch and saker should follow flower out, the tour seemed to be fundamentally mismanaged.

What concerns me about KP is that he's seen off moores, seen off Strauss and flower, there must be a major issue with the bloke in a close team environment and you have to draw the line sometime.

He was lucky to come back after textgate IMO.

Well, given that they are idiots.....

Expectations for the tour were far too high imo. The Ashes result last Summer was caused more by absences from the Aussie side than true quality of England.

I'd still pick him - as the best player. He's certainly a Match-Changer! And i seem to remember David Gower and Geoffrey Boycott weren't exactly the best 'team' players either. Botham was probably the 'team-iest' of the real talents (that I can remember), but even there was a rebellious streak! A touch of cocky self-confidence, bordering on arrogance, is no bad thing at the top level - just needs to be 'managed'!

His earning potential has probably rocketted with that decision too!

Black Caps/NZ Cricket apparently have their fair share of issues as well, though nothing like a Test win to make everyone forget troubles!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It was the correct choice to let him go

When England where playing well you could afford to allow the way he plays - when other are playing well he could have his personal battles with bowlers and if he won then he helped build on top of good starts

But when England were struggling we really needed him to forget his personal battles and knuckle down and be there for the team and stick it out, he couldn't handle being tied down by a bowler and instead of waiting for the bad ball he forced it and got out.

That's on top of his disruptive attitude and personality off the field .

He had to leave Notts because he didn't get on with the team - same with Hampshire, he lost the England captaincy because he tried yo get the coach fired

He is wonderful with the bat but he doesn't play for the team and never will do - he plays for Kevin Pieterson

The ECB have to do what they think is best and that's what they are doing - they have been pretty successful over the past decade so I, happy to revert to their judgement

Time to build for the future now

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Are you serious phil?

Whats the difference between him and What Suarez has done in the last 2 seasons?

The difference is Suarez has gone out and played for the team - KP hasn't

 

[Liverbirdie]

It starts with a strong coach, and then a strong Captain. If you have those you should be able to manage strong players. Sacking a good player because he has attitude... its the weak way out.

Grow some bails, take the guy behind the changing room and blast him up hill and down dale. Then get out on the pitch and do what you are both supposed to do.

Alternatively, have a team of second rate yes men.

Yep, totally agree with that.

 

[Foxholer]

But when England were struggling we really needed him to forget his personal battles and knuckle down and be there for the team and stick it out, he couldn't handle being tied down by a bowler and instead of waiting for the bad ball he forced it and got out.

Just an observation, but it's kinda ironic that, because nobody else is playing well, it's KP that has to go! :mmm:

Time to build for the future now

True enough, but also a great excuse.

It's always 'time to build for the future'. That's a huge part of ECB's job! It could just as easily be argued that the success has been 'in spite of them' as opposed to 'because of them'. But that's the lot of every National sports admin body! FA, LTA, RFU(s) and many others have had their share of self-inflicted disasters. Committee-itis isn't just a low-level disease!

 

[richart]

Personally I think it is time he went. He is not the player he was 5 years ago, and more importantly is not the great influence in the changing rooms with the young players that some ex players make out. Ask James Taylor.

I would have got rid of him after Textgate, and nothing that has happened since has made me change my mind. I do love it though that Geoff Boycott has come out saying Pietersen should play more for the team. If ever someone played for himself and his average it was Boycott.

 

[Foxholer]

I do love it though that Geoff Boycott has come out saying Pietersen should play more for the team. If ever someone played for himself and his average it was Boycott.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/604169.html
I went to the both these games! Living/working in Wellington; Born and with parents in Christchurch - close enough to Lancaster Park to occasionally here cheers!

Christchurch match was a comedy, though it ended up as an England win - despite Boycott!

 

[Piece]

After the SA text gate, that is when KP should have been no more.

Barring anything serious that we are not party to, KP should have been kept, so I voted to pick him. I'd wager that he's told the management during the Ashes tour that Flower's methods weren't working and, more worryingly, that Cook's captaincy was shocking. And rightly so, IMO. Sacked for speaking a blunt truth? I guess a 'team player' is a nodding 'yes' dog and says you are doing a fine job Cooky as we are 4-0 down and things are still the same.

KP hasn't changed his approach to batting throughout his career. He's been accused of not being a team player. Just what does that mean in a cricket environment? Not a great deal if your purpose is to get attacking runs. He's not a defensive player, so why all this flack when he gets out in a supposedly wreckless manner? Is Root a team player because he hangs around for hours scoring nothing and then gets out? Is Jimmy A a team player because he sets his own field because he is bowling absolute crud? Is Swann a team player because retires midway through a series because he doesn't fancy it any more? Is Bell a team player when he dances down the wicket first ball to an average spinner and dollies one up? The fact is, in cricket, it's more about the individual than the team as individual performances drive the team result.

KP's face doesn't fit because his attitude and personality doesn't tow the boring ECB and the captain's line. We've been here before though: Nick Compton was dropped, despite scoring much needed tons in NZ, as his personality and batting style was considered too dull and not of a 'team nature'.

What makes all the great teams is this assembly of great individuals. The way we are going, we are reverting back to the 1980s with set of black and white robots that can only do what is set out on a piece of paper, rather than use their talent to change the course of game.

Sport is an entertainment business and losing KP has meant that Test Match cricket this summer will be a duller place.

 

[Scouser]

Cba reading the thread no offence.... Simple answer no

A statement has now been made backing the skipper. End of and those who feel sorry for him have to realise he will make a few easy million as a free Lance cricketer... Tough life for some....

 

[mikee247]

Cricket is not what it used to be .. its a multi million $ enterprise with players being paid v large wages to entertain the public in all forms both IPL and International levels. Playing for the badge, country and the old characteristics mentioned like "team player" one of the boys etc are completely missed guided and out of touch unfortunately at this level. Yes of course they still have some meaning but are not the major drivers to an effective team and should not reflect selection in a modern world. He has presence, draws a crowd and like him or not can change a game in a couple of overs! No one else we have can do that.
If you were to ask the actual England team then you'd be surprised how many would have him on their starting sheet probably within the first 3 names. If you listen to what some of the comments made by people like Harmisson etc who have played with him to understand that they can put up with his attitude and arrogance because hes a winner. To drop him is just plain lunacy. It typifies that the ECB are living in cookoo land and as its been said the only people who will lose out of this is England and the supporters. I dont like Pietersen in fact he drives me mad with some of his shot choices and I don't like his attitude but he'd be on my starting sheet every week!!

I reckon he might want to re nationalise and choose SA this time!! I'd reckon they'd have him in all their sides... Can you imagine that if he did that!!! Carnage.....

Now that he's got a bit of free time perhaps he might consider turning out for my team next summer?? Ive got a slot at number 8 and he can have a runner if his knees are hurting!!

 

[Snelly]

I agree the ECB have mismanaged the whole affair.

It's pretty apparent the KP can't get on in a team environment. He is our best batsman, but doesn't play for the team. He's got an inability to rein in his style when the situation dictates.

I voted to not pick him but it makes me sad that we won't see him in an England shirt again, I'm not sure you could give him a third chance

Totally agree.

It is a shame but he doesn't learn and won't change.

One of my wife's friends has met him twice and spoke with him at some length (she is extraordinarily attractive so he may well have sought her out!) says he is a total and utter ...............

After she first met him she said something like, his opinion of himself is so huge that I thought he had cured cancer and delivered world peace before breakfast that morning..

The second time she met him she said he was "insufferable" and talked about himself to her in the 3rd person.

Personality issues aside, he's been kicked out of every team he's ever played for and eventually, people get fed up with his attitude I reckon.

 

[Papas1982]

I don't think he should have been dropped if picking players based on their form etc. he is still our best player. But then I don't think he should ever have played for us, sorry but if you're accent isn't English then you've clearly not been brought up here, but it was all about what could further him and playing for England did that. The ironic thing is the man most likely to replace him shouldn't either. But England are bigger than Ireland in cricket so he's dropped his country of birth for the bucks.

 

[patricks148]

I votes yes.

The guy is a Tool of the highest order, but when did that ever stop you being a great sportsman.

I don't like the guy one bit, but he is by far the best batsman still even though he has had a few lean Tests. Lets face it if you were to ditch anyone else that had not played well in the last few series, you would find the England Cricket team without Prior and Cook and most of the bowlers if the im honest.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Interesting to read that the batsman with the highest average in the last 10 winning England teams is not KP but Ian Bell which rather puts into perspective the claim that it is KP who wins games for England.

In any event most would accept that in Test Matches it is the bowlers rather than the batsmen that win the games.