A balanced view on Pietersen would help England
I always read Stephen Brenkley's pieces for The Independent and he's a good writer but this one about Pietersen is just poor. It references a bloke in a pub, a cab driver and the unsubstantiated rumours that he might have wanted to retire from at least one form of cricket after the World Cup. Next he'll be quoting a "source" or a "close friend" tabloid style. It's a poor piece of writing.
The one thing that everyone in the know is unanimous on is that no-one works harder on their game than Kevin Pietersen, so any suggestion that his heart isn't in it should be ridiculed. Pietersen is this generation's Ramprakash so, while his place shouldn't be taken foregranted, he should be given every opportunity to succeed. Those that know him suggest that far from not caring, he almost wants it too much.
While his dismissals are often cause for annoyance from those willing him to succeed (because more often than not they're of his own making rather than the bowler's) Pietersen still averages late 40s in Test cricket after a relatively prolonged slump. And remember that's a slump which includes a double hundred. Andy Flower isn't a fool - if he didn't think Pietersen was the right man he'd move on, but he knows that Pietersen is key to reaching the stated target of world number 1.
I know there are many who read this blog who have taken against Pietersen, but for me baseless articles like Brenkley's this weekend have a lot to answer for. Few facts, mostly gossip. Journalists agree that there is no England player more polite and helpful to them, but they also confirm he reads everything and tackles them about perceived untruths. On Sky yesterday the Cricket Writers on TV all agreed they wouldn't drop Pietersen this summer if it was their decision, so suggestions that he may be dropped can wait until he's not scored a 50 and we're into August to have any credibility. He's only batted twice for England this summer after all. Sigh...
Hopefully Brenkley will quickly return to writing properly.
4 comments:
Ed, I'd agree with what you say other than... "Pietersen is this generation's Ramprakash" I don't see any similarities at all, either in the way that their careers have gone, the way that they have been treated by selectors, or the way they go about their cricket.
The biggest difference between them is that KP started his test career with a bang and has shown that he has what it takes to suceed at the top level whereas Ramps's never really got started, despite always looking like was about do great things.
Fair comment Pete. My argument was based on my opinion that right now, Pietersen wants it too much and he's not playing naturally. He's trying to take all risk out his game which is not how he played when he first came onto the scene. Ramps had the same thing, he wanted it desperately and obsessed about technique to the detriment of his performance.
If Pietersen does get dropped soon (less likely after the 2nd innings at Lords which was only ended by a wonder ball) I think it will be a great loss and we'll all spend many a pint lamenting the most talented player of a generation not playing international cricket, much like many of us have done while discussing Ramprakash.
True, but I think (& hope) that because KP has achieved in the past, it will be easier for him to regain his form.
I'd love to see him cross-bat Brett Lee back down the ground, or reverse sweep a six again some day.
True, but I think (& hope) that because KP has achieved in the past, it will be easier for him to regain his form.
I'd love to see him cross-bat Brett Lee back down the ground, or reverse sweep a six again some day.
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