Kevin Pietersen's fall from grace is startling
"It would be tempting to present Kevin Pietersen’s omission from England’s one-day squad as a morality tale about how the mighty have fallen, as that is plainly how the man himself sees it," writes Derek Pringle in the Telegraph
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
"It would be tempting to present Kevin Pietersen’s omission from England’s one-day squad as a morality tale about how the mighty have fallen, as that is plainly how the man himself sees it," writes Derek Pringle in the Telegraph. "But top-notch sportsman that he is, Pietersen is as fallible as the rest of us when his mind, hardwired to the pursuit of constant success, starts to question itself."
The truth is that KP has not been at the top of his game for a while now, especially in one-day cricket, the format he used to confirm his international pedigree with England in spectacular style, when he scored three hundreds in six games against South Africa.
He last passed fifty in 50-over internationals just under two years ago at Cuttack, when he was still captain. That same evening, the terror attacks on Mumbai commenced, though for Pietersen it has been his demotion back to the ranks that has had the greater affect on his cricket.
Pietersen is hurt by his omission but he should eventually come to thank the selectors. England need him in Australia this winter, but not as much as they once would have done. If he realises that he may be restored, writes Stephen Brenkley in the Independent.
This is Andy Flower and the England selectors sending out a message - it doesn't matter who you are or how good you are, if you take your eye off the ball you will be left out of the England cricket team, writes Nasser Hussain in the Daily Mail.
How he reacts now is crucial. He must not huff and puff and sulk. He must score big runs for Surrey. That is the point of what England have done and that is how Pietersen will regain that rhythm and form, even if he does it by scoring Second Division runs.
I have no doubts at all that Kevin Pietersen will be in the England team in Australia and I can see why the selectors feel this is the best way of helping him recover his form in time for the biggest series of them all. We all want to see the KP of old firing again, not least the selectors, who have made another strong call.
In the Guardian, Rob Bagchi says that if there is one consolation from this benighted series it is that England's fielders are among the very best we have ever had.
The era of hiding duffers such as Phil Tufnell, Devon Malcolm and Alan Mulally at fine leg and long-off is over. Every one of this side chucks himself about with abandon for the cause and executes the basics with finesse. There is no better exemplar than James Anderson who takes every chance that comes his way and never concedes two runs when the ball is within 20 yards of his position like so many lumbering carthorse bowlers in the past did.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo