Kevin Pietersen - would you pick him ?

[richart]

Kevin is not interested in whether or not people like him. He just wants to win. Been that way since the day I met him. He is actually a very pleasant guy and one of the most talented and iconic sportspeople of our generation. I would pick him every single day of the week. Damn and blast the buffoons at the ECB!

He has hidden that desire to win in Australia recently very well. He seems to want to play for himself, which has shown itself in the way he has been getting out. I always thought if you can not win a match the next best is to draw it.

Shame he didn't learn that a bit of loyalty to his Captains, and team would have extended his test career, before it was too late.

 

[Foxholer]

He just wants to win. Been that way since the day I met him....

It's all your fault then!

Unfortunately, he's also not been demonstrating that 'want' too well recently!

Oh. and the Aussies, with a much better team available to them than previously, also did a pretty good hatchet job - something they are really quite good at - on the entire team, which appears to have had a rather weak response from the entire structure! I don't believe it was just KP and/or Flower that were 'at fault'!

 

[JCW]

For one back to back ashes was not a good idea but England were not beaten they were thrashed , the dressing room was not a happy place and made worse because the team was on tour . KP is a great player , a winner who scores his runs very quickly , after text gate he should have never return because its only a question of time before it rears its head again , Trott going home . Swann retirement in the middle of a series on tour , never known that before , KP is done , move on , what I like to see is bit more honesty from the players , you tell me why steven finn never got a game , move on with a new team

 

[Foxholer]

Here's the sort of innings/stand that was needed, from any of the English batsmen!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26222623

And McCullum isn't exactly what I would call a 'defensive' batsman!

Same ground that Botham ran Boycott out when they wanted quick runs btw!

 

[fundy]

Here's the sort of innings/stand that was needed, from any of the English batsmen!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26222623

And McCullum isn't exactly what I would call a 'defensive' batsman!

Same ground that Botham ran Boycott out when they wanted quick runs btw!

McCullums innings was absolutely top class, but lets be honest it was on the flattest of tracks against one of the worst attacks test cricket has seen for a while, certainly wasnt any Mitchell Johnsons on show. The more interesting recent result was that Johnson and his pals managed to blow away the South Africans in the first test much as they had England (apart from the home advantage!) with Johnson picking up 12 wickets in the match and the Saffer batsmen looking as complicit as the English (or Saffer B) had

 

[ColchesterFC]

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!)

I'm joining this argument late but I don't think you can post that sort of statement without evidence to back it up. I demand photographic proof with a poll set up for the forum to vote on the attractiveness of said young lady.

 

[Foxholer]

McCullums innings was absolutely top class, but lets be honest it was on the flattest of tracks against one of the worst attacks test cricket has seen for a while, certainly wasnt any Mitchell Johnsons on show.

Still got to be done though, which is what England were incapable of in Oz - and decided that Pieterson was a major cause!
Also means that NZ's first innings of 192 was even more dire....but that's NZ Cricket!

The more interesting recent result was that Johnson and his pals managed to blow away the South Africans in the first test much as they had England (apart from the home advantage!) with Johnson picking up 12 wickets in the match and the Saffer batsmen looking as complicit as the English (or Saffer B) had

That's more like what the real reason is - a great Oz performance. Certainly the form team at the moment.

 

[fundy]

Still got to be done though, which is what England were incapable of in Oz - and decided that Pieterson was a major cause!
Also means that NZ's first innings of 192 was even more dire....but that's NZ Cricket!



That's more like what the real reason is - a great Oz performance. Certainly the form team at the moment.

Not at all. Was a bit of a strange pitch, very very green on day 1 and NZ had by far the worst of the conditions 1st inns, ball did plenty but by day 2 once the moisture had gone the track turned brown and became very very flat and easy to bat on

 

[richart]

Here's the sort of innings/stand that was needed, from any of the English batsmen!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26222623

And McCullum isn't exactly what I would call a 'defensive' batsman!

Same ground that Botham ran Boycott out when they wanted quick runs btw!

Was it a drop in pitch ? I remember England played NZ on one, a few years back. First innings both teams struggled to make 100, second innings both Thorpe and Astle scored double tons.

 

[Snelly]

I'm joining this argument late but I don't think you can post that sort of statement without evidence to back it up. I demand photographic proof with a poll set up for the forum to vote on the attractiveness of said young lady.

PM me your email address and I will send you a photo. She is a model. Not sure she'd want her pic on a golf forum at least not without me asking first.

She just played the part of one of the pit girls in the recent F1 film Rush. This should give you some idea!

 

[fundy]

Was it a drop in pitch ? I remember England played NZ on one, a few years back. First innings both teams struggled to make 100, second innings both Thorpe and Astle scored double tons.

No the Basin reserve is one of the few non drop in pitches in NZ these days. However, alot of rain in the lead up to the match had meant the pitch started greener than ideal hence it being very tough to bat on day 1 but got easier as the test went on as it dried out without ever properly deteriorating (it still looked like a day 2 or 3 pitch at the end of 5 days)

 

[fundy]

Good to see not picking your best side but having a happy dressing room is working out well lol. Well played Holland (yes I do mean Holland!)

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The batting has performed well up until today with the bowlers not performing.

The time of Pieterson has passed now - he is chasing his dollar in the various T20 tournaments ( bet his county are delighted after giving him a new contract ) .

 

[fundy]

The batting has performed well up until today with the bowlers not performing.

The time of Pieterson has passed now - he is chasing his dollar in the various T20 tournaments ( bet his county are delighted after giving him a new contract ) .

You means Hales got a ton against SL when the ball was like a bar of soap (the tournament has been close to ruined by the dew in the late games), not one of the other batters has stats they would be happy with!

Yes KPs time is up (incorrectly), as for Surrey being unhappy? He didnt have a contract with them separate to his England contract until England dropped him, he has now signed a T20 contract with them that gives him the opportuinity to play championship games too, I think they are chuffed to bits with the situ tbh

The bigger issue for England cricket is Ashley Giles reward for overseeing this farce is he will become in charge of the test format as well as limited overs (farcical for an inexperienced clueless coach), Gooch and Saker still have coaching jobs and preobably more worryingly than all of that is that Giles Clarke is still in charge of English cricket full stop

 

[Martin70]

I can't help feeling there is a massively difficult job that needs doing to get England back to where they were 2 years ago.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Yes Giles shouldn't get the job and I hope they look towards Kirsten.

Some players should never play again for England - Dernbach , Bopara has finally run out of lives are two to start with

 

[fundy]

Yes Giles shouldn't get the job and I hope they look towards Kirsten.

Some players should never play again for England - Dernbach , Bopara has finally run out of lives are two to start with

The players really arent the issue for me currently, need a new top down approach with a change of coaches and a whole new attitude. If youve been watching on sky you'd tell them to offer Nasser as much money as he wants to be England head coach, talks far too much sense, sadly will never happen

 

[Piece]

Yes KPs time is up (incorrectly), as for Surrey being unhappy? He didnt have a contract with them separate to his England contract until England dropped him, he has now signed a T20 contract with them that gives him the opportuinity to play championship games too, I think they are chuffed to bits with the situ tbh

Interestingly, KP has made himself available for the Caribbean T20 in July & Aug. He could miss some of Surrey's T20 matches. Further, I can't see him playing any county cricket...no cash no incentive.

 

[fundy]

Interestingly, KP has made himself available for the Caribbean T20 in July & Aug. He could miss some of Surrey's T20 matches. Further, I can't see him playing any county cricket...no cash no incentive.

Missed that, seems hes been given permission by Surrey to fly out after the T20 1/4 finals but be back for finals day so wont actually miss any Surrey T20 games for Caribbean comp (think he misses a couple because of the IPL though). Still expect he plays a county game or 2 inbetween returning from the IPL and heading off to the Caribbean, just to get some time at the crease if nothing else

 

[Deleted member 18588]

The players really arent the issue for me currently, need a new top down approach with a change of coaches and a whole new attitude. If youve been watching on sky you'd tell them to offer Nasser as much money as he wants to be England head coach, talks far too much sense, sadly will never happen

Not a bad shout and I say that as a Bears man.

As usual England are behind the times. Our batting line up for the T20 has been dominated by those that are happiest when there is some pace on the ball whereas most of the attacks are heavily reliant upon their spinners.

In the absence of KP our best player of spin is Bell who uses his feet and does not try to play from the crease all the time.

What do we do? We give him a free holiday in Bangladesh on top of the break he had already enjoyed in the West Indies.

Typical!