Print

[Watsontotty]

Last night we debated at length England's current test series against Pakistan and many other series altogether as well as some rather heated debates regarding some of the current players and possible future players. The topic which was fiercely debated the most was about Kevin Pietersen and his recent and current form, obviously we were all aware of his undoubted ability etc but the debate was more about the here and now and the future.

In my opinion KP performance in the last 18 months or so have dramatically gone down hill, some of the shots he plays and the way he is getting out is embarrassing for such a high quality player. He looks to have little idea when playing spin which is confusion when you cast your mind back to the KP of old who would dominate any spinner and basically take them apart. There are several other factors which we talked about attitude desire etc etc and i feel he should be dropped yes that's right dropped.

I ask you the question if KP was bowler would he still be in the England team, well in my opinion he certainly wouldn't be he would have been dropped shock he needs to up his game and prove he really wants it. We all agreed we need him for the ashes but there is something lacking with kp and we were all unsure if its his ambition or attitude.

Whats your thoughts ?

[Buzz]

The thing that amazes me about KP is that his issues are all mental - He really has problems concentrating and doesn't rate a lot of bowlers and then gets out.

Personally I would only drop him if I thought there was someone better or more likely to score more runs - and there isn't. Bopara, Carbery or Lyth, better than Pietersen? Not in my book.

Not having a county is also a big deal. There were suggestions in the paper today that he will ahve to pay middlesex to play for them next year - rather than getting paid by them!

[Watsontotty]

He average's around 32 in recent times and that's certainly on the decline and we haven't been playing against the test elite, I'm not suggesting we have better players waiting to come in but are we getting enough from him ? its all well and good saying well hes capable of scoring runs but at some stage you have to look at what runs he is scoring which right now isn't enough and a decision will need to be made.

The point regarding a county team i was under the impression a deal with Middlesex had already been sorted, KP made some comments about possibly not needing a county which in my opinion shows me he thinks hes too good for county cricket, i question his whole attitude even though he is a wonderful player.

[Colesy]

I sympathise for KP. He needs confidence and needs to go back to the basics, or what he is good at doing. I don't mind if he gets 40 off 20 as long as he feels good afterwards and is regaining confidence. In terms of the upcoming Ashes series I think it's too late to drop him as he'll gain no form in county cricket or domestic so I think we should persist and if he gets no runs in The Ashes then he should have a spell domestically.

[PM7]

KP is obviously an emotional and highly strung cricketer as are many professional sportsmen playing at the highest level possible.Losing the captaincy was a huge blow to him personally especially as he brought a different vibe to the team and that was his big chance to show the world that he could achieve anything. His class is obvious and he is a big match player.Very few England players are big match players and certainly not matchwinners like KP.There is a fantastic allround balance with England which has been missing for years which is why Cook and KP are being highlighted at the moment.No other country boosts up a player and then shoots them down and kicks them hard better than England.The Aussies will be pissing themselves laughing if he doesnt play in OZ as he is certainly the one player that they fear... and he has already left some scars on them.

[mars]

I think once he gets back into a county and gets some big scores, we'll see the same old Pietersen scoring in the England side. A player will only get back into form with time out in the middle. The way England have tried to get him back in form during a Test match is the wrong way. Now the problem is, which county will take him? He said he wants to be around London so teams like Middlesex and Surrey, but will they take him?

Also I read on Cricinfo that the ECB will also insist that, in order to qualify for an England contract, players must sign for a county club. This will force KP to find a county home.

[Buzz]

I think, after having a chat to a mate - that KP is having a problem being to much of a new age dad - he is spending too much time changing nappies and giving midnight feeds.

He needs to take a leaf out of Rooney's book!!

This may sound slightly ridiculous, but I have an 8 month old, so have some experience of not sleeping and having to go to work and not being 100% committed to my day job...

[Simmy]

form is temporary class is permanent

and this is class

never seen anything like it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4D5krDwwTA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZnSs6ldUWo&feature=related

tbh i think him personally and the form of 20 20 has done wonders for cricket hes just not doing it in the tests

[Riddy]

KP is obviously an emotional and highly strung cricketer as are many professional sportsmen playing at the highest level possible.Losing the captaincy was a huge blow to him personally especially as he brought a different vibe to the team and that was his big chance to show the world that he could achieve anything. His class is obvious and he is a big match player.Very few England players are big match players and certainly not matchwinners like KP.There is a fantastic allround balance with England which has been missing for years which is why Cook and KP are being highlighted at the moment.No other country boosts up a player and then shoots them down and kicks them hard better than England.The Aussies will be pissing themselves laughing if he doesnt play in OZ as he is certainly the one player that they fear... and he has already left some scars on them.

well said

[procricket]

Buzz i agree with you completely and i get the feeling KP needs to be in some kind of zone to perform..

Like most world class stars there a enigma around them a almost Zen.

What KP walking out to bat you can tell if he is right or not...

Overcoached as well does that come into it i sure KP plays better when he is not thinking about it...

The truth is he needs to be loved a challenge in his own mind Ala Ashes Warne..

Yes he a arragent individual but without doubt our most talented individual with a bat in his hands bar none...

If the backroom staff fail to get the best out of him then it there problam and they have failed...

Playing domestic  cricket might be a answer for some but not for a KP he lives life on a tipped balance of flawed genius and facing some of the dross in county cricket is hardly going to get him into the groove were used to..

If KP fails in my mind so has the captain and coaches gone are the old Illingworth days were it was pick you chin up and play now with all the backroom staff none technicals around it''s there job to get him fireing again...

If he has a bad ashes i suspect it may be the last we see of KP out of his own choice...

Question is how badly does he want to go down as a true great

[Kal]

Does he need the hassle of test cricket now?

As much as i have enjoyed watching him bat, you do sometimes wonder if if his heart is in it. i mean he came over to further himself from SA, he's done virtually everything (won the ashes, won a world cup etc) and the money is now simply in being a twenty twenty mercenary aka Pollard. 

If he was serious about Test cricket, he would play some county cricket and get in the habit of batting for long periods etc.

He doenst need the hassle / effort of playing tests. Dont get me wrong i think a firing KP is the most destructive batsmen in the world and would love him to do it for England, however he has other things on his mind / plate.

KP needs to stop thinking and just hit it, Which is why I think KP as he is, prefers & plays better in the shorter format of the game.

Its a shame as i do think he could have been a "great", not just a good batsmen...

[procricket]

for a man who came over as a off spinner who could bat a bit he aint done to bad...

[Riddy]

imo, his main problem is he tries to be too textbook.... it was part of his whole package that he was unorthodox and outrageous, but it seems like he has been turned into coaching manual batsman

[procricket]

here here bring back the flamingo

[Riddy]

too damn right, i miss that shot