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[Beachcricket]

KP is a good player but by no means a great one. The manner with which he gets out is shambolic at times. I disagree with The Bird's comment regarding the media, I think their failure to highlight his consistently irresponsible shots has helped him. There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence, but KP misses that and straddles the line between arrogance and stupidity.

[The_Bird]

KP is a good player but by no means a great one. The manner with which he gets out is shambolic at times. I disagree with The Bird's comment regarding the media, I think their failure to highlight his consistently irresponsible shots has helped him. There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence, but KP misses that and straddles the line between arrogance and stupidity.

The media single handedly blew his flaws against left arm spin up completely and his so called bust up with Peter Moores!!! Everyone loved him when he switched hit murali and co for fun and now hes useless, thats the package you get with him. He's the one who galvanized England's Ashes win in '05 and stood up to the Aussies. Everyone followed his lead, if England drop him they are deluded.

[alba caerulea]

I agree. He does have his flaws like any batsman and his form has been patchy of late, but lets not forget that he's had 2 double tons in the last year or so! And at present I don't see anyone better for England to bring in (suggestions please)

There are people ahead of him in the queue to be dropped anyway

[Beachcricket]

I completely agree he should be in the team and please don't think I'm doubting his ability. He's a long way from deserving to be dropped but he needs to be far more responsible. His reasoning of "It's just the way I play" is a pathetic excuse that doesn't wash at international level.

KP had an impact in the '05 Ashes but so did 10+ others. He also had no right to make an issue with the coach that he had turn into something that undermined the team. It's easy to say it was good move in hindsight. His dismissals are indicative of someone who forgets their position and importance within a team effort.

The media did incorrectly emphasise his frailties against left arm spin, which was wrong. In truth they should have been highlighting that he was being dismissed not because he couldn't play left arm spin but instead because he kept attempting play shots that were not high percentage when facing that type of bowler.

He's not the flamboyant new boy he was in '05 anymore, he's a senior member of a team that needs him to play with maturity.

Having said all that, who would replace him. He's a match winner.

[golders]

would be interested to know what KP avaerages in his last three years in test, I'm pretty sure he's been pretty inconsistent?

[The_Bird]

Think he Averaged 70+ last year, England's frailties against spin is very well documented. The best players of spin don't let them settle. Clarke, Lara etc. would just dance down the track and remove a few close fielders and straight away gain the advantage. If you let good spinners bowl at you they will make you look silly. India away is the perfect time to bounce back on the Asian Style pitches. Congrats to Pakistan as well world test cricket is alive and well!!!!

[basket case]

Think he Averaged 70+ last year, England's frailties against spin is very well documented. The best players of spin don't let them settle. Clarke, Lara etc. would just dance down the track and remove a few close fielders and straight away gain the advantage. If you let good spinners bowl at you they will make you look silly. India away is the perfect time to bounce back on the Asian Style pitches. Congrats to Pakistan as well world test cricket is alive and well!!!!

You're a bit deluded to think England will fair better when they tour India. First of all England will go to Sri Lanka in March.

India's last home series loss was in 2004 to Australia. Since then they have played 13 home series - winning 9 and drawing 4. The sides to gain draws where Pakistan in 2004/05. England in 2005/06. And South Africa in 2007/08 and 2009/10.

Make no bones about it, India's the toughest place to tour in the sub continent.

[basket case]

would be interested to know what KP avaerages in his last three years in test, I'm pretty sure he's been pretty inconsistent?

Since 2009, Pietersen averages 46.78. This is boosted by the recent series with India, where he pummelled the hapless Indians for 533 runs @ 106.60. If he didn't have that golden series, he averages 40.

[The_Bird]

Sorry think you misinterpreted what I meant England have an opportunity to bounce back against a top side in foreign conditions in India. A win in Sri Lanka will mean/prove nothing really. And by bouncing back i mean not get spun out for peanuts just competing will be a bonus. The Indian team hopefully will be full of Young hungry cricketers when we go there so should be interesting...

[basket case]

Sorry think you misinterpreted what I meant England have an opportunity to bounce back against a top side in foreign conditions in India. A win in Sri Lanka will mean/prove nothing really. And by bouncing back i mean not get spun out for peanuts just competing will be a bonus. The Indian team hopefully will be full of Young hungry cricketers when we go there so should be interesting...

Sorry I thought you meant India would be a push over. Crossed wires lol. Winning in SL would be a great achievement though. Only Australia have won there in recent times.

[The_Bird]

Sorry I thought you meant India would be a push over. Crossed wires lol. Winning in SL would be a great achievement though. Only Australia have won there in recent times.

No nothing in India is easy and surely the recent Indian debacle cannot continue, I hope so anyway Sri Lanka without Murali are a different team entirely some very tidy batsmen emerging tho Perara looked brutal in the recent ODI's

[basket case]

No nothing in India is easy and surely the recent Indian debacle cannot continue, I hope so anyway Sri Lanka without Murali are a different team entirely some very tidy batsmen emerging tho Perara looked brutal in the recent ODI's

Funny thing about India is they can get battered away from home, yet soon as they return they start winning again. You'd expect sooner or later a tour hangover, but I guess 'home is where the heart is'!!!

[Kaz092]

Quick question just because a side is chasing 146 to win does that mean they have a god given right to win the game ??

What is the job description for the bowling side are they just there to make up the numbers or get the opposition out for as less as possible ??

Credit where credit is due Pak bowled really well no doubt you cant blame everything on English batsman that were smashing everyone around last few years and were the best thing since sliced bread

You really wanna know why England cant play spin, I'll be honest and it might piss a lot of people off but it starts at grass root level with the coaches everything is so technical and you must play like boycott in the V to get a county contract

If there is something different about you they will change it, I used to play with a sri lankan guy when I was younger who was about 15 and bowled like murali same action everything went to county trials and got told to bowl like john embury why ??

Had an another young guy who would flick the ball of middle and off through midwicket and did it with great success and always scored runs and got told to play straight didn't suit him hardly scored runs and never played another county game

Look at all the greats of the game, there is something distinctively different about them, Lara with his back swing and one foot in the air, Viv with his chewing gum no lid and smacking it for fun

Warne with all his variations, Mural and now possibly Saeed Ajmal

Why do youngsters always get things coached out of them because it ain't in the ENGLISH rule book, if you have natural talent and ability let it flourish

Look at all the recent youth world cups which teams do you see in the finals all the time ?? coincidence hey !!

We have a south african who is our best player (KP)
An Irish man who is meant to be great at playing spin in the ODI arena and scoring runs (Morgan)

Yet we dint wanna pick anyone different bring Monty In (Indian decent) and look what happens

Things at grass root have to change

Just because you go too a posh school have rich parents and a great education and quality of life does not mean your going to a world class cricketer

Need to look outside of the box

Many thanks for reading and like I said I apologise if I have offended anyone I'm just voicing my opinion !!!!!!!

[Kaz092]

Plus everyone is saying England should have been more positive

Well how when the first shot your told is a forward defence ??

What was I told "you cant score runs unless you learn to stay at the wicket" yeah I agree with but what's the point of staying there for 100 balls and getting 20 when I could easily get 20 of 30 balls ?

All the innings needed was a cameo from anyone a quick 25 or 30 and the game would have been Englands

They can do it look at the 20 20 success

As a cricket supporter we all love to see Gilchrist, Warner, Sehwag, Gayle, Jayasuriya, Afridi why ??

Is it because they block the (No Swearing Please) of the ball no did not think soo

Nasser made the point 21 of 15 overs set the tone of the innings really

England got into that position why because of Broad why because he smashed it maybe?? then all the talk of batting 3 second innings but because he gets cleaned up again its a bad shot what would have happened if it sailed over the ropes for a six

Mind set has to change

Unless you stay at the wkt and make a match winning contribution it counts for nothing, be honest when we play on sat in the leagues when an opener spends ages at the crease and gets dismissed for say 30 odd when your chasing 2oo plus and you have a few overs left at the rate required is high does it put pressure on the lower order ??

Yeah it gets easier to bat the more time you spend at the crease but what's the point when your out and cant take advantage of all the time you spent in the middle

[Number4]

Great speech Kaz.. Problem is no-one stayed at the crease at all and it certainly wasn't a high run rate... a day and a half to chase 146?... no pressure at all... Poor cricket I'd say.. Yes Pakistan bowled well but as Nasser said the pitch wasn't a mine field. Problem with Test cricket these days is everyone wants to go out and play 20/20 style... 20/20 has ruined test cricket. Sometimes you just need to hang around and push ones and two's to win a game... Every game can't be played in the same style.

A forward defensive shot would have saved Broad from being clean bowled. Sometimes the best form of attack is defense.

Ever heard of waiting for the bad balls