cricket question. Will KP stop playing tests when SA series finishes ?

Definitely LBW there YT.

 

Whilst KP is hardly a shy and retiring, innocent little pawn in this saga, I reckon it's wrong to criticise him like a lot of people are over this situation.

The ECB continually flex their muscles as though he's merely a commodity and they own him. Dictating that he has to play everything if he wants to play t20 and tests. Meanwhile it's fine for Ali Cook to only play fifty over cricket and not twenty - under the proviso that he's not good enough for t20 cricket. Look at his stats for Essex.

IPL is the biggest showcase of cricket in the world currently. Talents like KP deserve the chance to shine in it. And earn the money it brings. And KP is hardly turning into Kieron Pollard, the touring t20 machine is he?

KP is prepared to compromise and listen to the ECB. Why should they be permitted to dig their heels in with such a talent?

I note with interest that after talks with Barry Hearn, ronnie osullivan had signed the players deal. Something he said he'd never do.

Barry is a smart cookie, he recognised ronnie is the sport's biggest star, a mercurial talent who is pure box office and that the sport as an entertainment product would be a million per cent worse without him. And so he's compromised and reduced the amount of travelling and mandatory tournaments for ronnie.

ECB take note.

And to anyone who believes that the England side would be as good without KP - in any form of cricket - you should get in the queue behind Ian Beale at the dr's.

I believe in fairies, the Easter bunny, and Keith Hill.

 

I hope the country that adopted him and has since been held to r ansom by him explains that he is under contract and if he refuses to oblige to his terms and conditions sues the arse of him.

 

Country that has adopted him? His fecking mother is English!

It's a bloody ridiculous rule that said somebody who is English qualified by birth, 'half' English in old money, had to wait four years to play for the
country he chose. It's the same with trott. Yet anyone who's gran once had a day trip to Llandudno could play for Wales at football straight away. Bizarre.

And he's hardly holding anyone to ransom, he's offered to take a large pay cut in order he have a smaller international schedule.

I know I'm in the minority in supporting him, but I love my cricket and I don't think there's ever been somebody like pietersen before or will be again - he averages just under fifty in tests and every other innings he throws his wicket away. Christ knows what he'd average if he played within himself - but he won't, because he recognises that professional sport is an entertainment industry and wouldn't exist if nobody was interested, so likes to entertain. I'm a big supporter of trott and cook too but they only work when you have a pietersen in the middle order - and prior at seven arguably too.

It'd be a crying shame for everybody if he walks away, nobody benefits at all. Find some middle ground ECB, or play test matches in empty grounds like the rest of the teams if you insist on charging £80 or £100 a ticket.

 

It will be a massive shame but it will be his own fault IMO.

 

Well summed up FR and I think you're spot on about the dressing room problems.

 

Massive climb down tonight from KP. And very welcome.

Interesting that after his announcement, the ECB have pushed the squad announcement back from half nine to half two tomorrow - does this mean they were gonna drop him but now want to rethink?

I hope sense is seen and he plays every game in all forms for the foreseeable - I just hope the ECB don't fancy showing him up and not selecting him. It'll backfire if they try owt like that.

 

The Olympic games beats IPL and Premier league.

Howzaaaat!!!!!!?