'Beowulf, Achilles and Lancelot in one'
Tom Holland believes that despite all the controversies and unwanted headlines, Kevin Pietersen should not be forgotten for all the times he captivated viewers with his brilliance with the bat
10-Oct-2014
Writing for the Guardian Sport Network's the Nightwatchman, Tom Holland believes that despite all the controversies and unwanted headlines, Kevin Pietersen should not be forgotten for all the times he captivated viewers with his brilliance with the bat.
Heroes in epic, of course, often had a similar quality: bred and raised far away from the run of common men, and possessed of an aura of the eerie. Like them, Pietersen eventually succeeded in triumphing over youthful adversity, and winning for himself the chance to take on the very best. David took on Goliath, Luke Skywalker fought with Darth Vader, and KP made his Test debut against Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. The century he scored at The Oval - an extraordinary feat of dragon-slaying which ensured that England, just as they were on the verge of letting the Ashes slip through their fingers, would get to win them back after all - was the most joyous moment of that entire joyous summer. He had arrived.