Why we need to talk about KP
Everyone connected with England these days is asked the Pietersen question, writes Stephen Brenkley in the Independent
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Everyone connected with England these days is asked the Pietersen question, writes Stephen Brenkley in the Independent. While some say that everything will be all right and that one day soon he will go out there and prove the doubters wrong, the trouble is that few believe it any longer and fewer still would pick him in the England team.
The point of the non-expert witnesses is pretty persuasive. Neither of Pietersen's dismissals in the opening two Test matches of the summerspeak of a man who is within touching distance of his next double-century as the rest of the dressing room try desperately to make the case for him. Perhaps they are tryingto convince themselves.
Steve James looks at how Pietersen stirs emotion and opinion like no other modern-day cricketer. He is always a talking point, mostly the talking point, he writes in the Sunday Telegraph.
Indeed nobody in their right mind should consider omitting him for the third Test at Southampton, even if he were to fail a second time here at Lord’s. He’s failed twice this summer, that’s all.
And this is my hectoring moment: nobody please again use the line “if you take out his double-century at Adelaide...” in trying to emphasise Pietersen’s recent ineffectiveness. If memory serves correctly, those runs were not gifted during some boozy benefit match. They were scored in a live, hugely significant Ashes Test that England won. They count all right.
Mike Brearley in the Observer wishes Pietersen the speediest recovery of form in Test matches this summer and observes that while he can dominate against great bowlers like Shane Warne he can still look like a novice against ordinary ones.
No one would say that Pietersen is a saint. He clearly loves making money, he likes being a star, he may be at risk of being seduced by the limelight.
But through all this and underlying it all is a person who wants, as Andrew Strauss suggested (lightly) in his recent book, to be appreciated and loved. He may be awkward at times, a bit foolish perhaps, but basically he is a team-player with excellent skills and personal qualities.
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo