The Cricket Thread 2016

[Tugby Villain]

Oh come on, can we stop depressing me?  The mighty Foxes are no more...😭

[peter w]

He's our best batsman. Countless players past and present think we made a mistake in sacking him and that he should still be in the England set-up. And he should be. A top player should be managed better rather than thrown on the scrap heap before time. But, his book will make it difficult for him to get back in. he's criticised Anderson and Broad who are still going to be there and it will potentially be divisive, maybe too divisive to bring him back. BUT, this is a problem of the ECB's own making. They handled the whole situation horribly and one by one those responsible have gone or will soon go. I can't see Whittaker surviving. i also think Cook should have the captaincy taken from him.

[aev]

I am in 2 minds over the KP thing.

I think he was made a bit of a scapegoat after the Ashes debacle - it seemed vindictive to sack him and has left the ECB with a very awkward decision.

I also think that our batting isn't really the issue - it is the bowling that worries me more. I think Ballance, Bell, Root and Ali followed by Stokes and Buttler is a decent batting unit, although an inexperienced one. I think having made the break from KP, they should continue as they are. After all, who would you drop for him.

He has made a big thing about scoring runs in county cricket, but he is playing for Surrey in Div 2. He could have, for example, offered his services to a newly promoted Div 1 team, as he isn't being paid (his wages are going to charity). He has flayed 300 odd today which is a commendable achievement, but against the weakest county on a presumably good batting track.

He was a fantastic batsman at his peak, and when he appeas on SKY i think he comes across quite well. I then read some dopey tweet from his cheerleader P Morgan and think to myself he must be a tool to have him as a mate.

The whole thing leaves me a bit conflicted to be honest - the sacking has created a mess that still rumbles on.

[Chris Jameson]

Now he's been told he won't play for England again hopefully that's the end of it. Bet Piers Moron will cry himself to sleep tonight, his beloved having the news broken to him as Arsenal lose, marvellous.

[tomd2103]

I'm saying he should be considered, not just cast aside. All this nonsense about dressing room harmony has shown no up turn in form. We should be selecting our best players, if Pietersen is one of those he should play, it's up to the coach and captain to manage varying personalities not just pick people they like.

Agree Paul, but where would he fit in at the moment?  Guess it would be a straight choice between him and Bell.

[ozzjim]

He should be in the team, simple as that. The problem is that no one has the backbone to deal with the situation properly, because Boycott is right about Cook, and Cook doesn't like Pieterson. Cook is a very, very uninspiring captain, with no bottle for the job, and can't be seen to take KP back in his own mind. All bonkers, as England lose out on having their best batsman in the side, who had the highest average in the Ashes disgrace last year!

Appointing Strauss is another nod to the old boys club not wanting to rock the boat. Stewart or Vaughan would have come in and ruffled feathers, Strauss simply won't, which means this will be a very long, predictable and chastising summer I reckon. I hate the way KP throws away his wicket at times, but if you want to win test matches players like him are needed. Batting Butler at 8 after a line up full of decent but boring batsmen in the hope he will knock a quick 50 is not going to work.

[Villan For Life]

A triple century is a fantastic feat, however I do think a little perspective is needed. He scored his runs against a second division county, a county that before the start of this season had not won a four day game for over two seasons. I would expect him to score heavily against an average bowling attack.

He has always polarised opinion. Personally, I always felt that he was just short of true greatness. He never dominated games and series like a Ponting or a Tendulkar. He always had an eye on the showbiz shot and got out a few times in the 90's when trying to bring up his ton in grand style. First and foremost he played for Kevin Pieterson first and England second. When it worked he was a joy to watch. When it backfired you were left frustrated.

Should he recalled? No. He was lucky to be recalled after textgate and in his last couple of seasons he didn't reach previous levels. We need to build for the future and the likes of Root, Ballance and Ali have a good international future ahead of them.

Downton handled the whole situation very badly last year and the Pietersen PR machine capitalised on that. Now we have a Director of English cricket that doesn't want him in the squad and a captain who played a part in his removal. Time to draw a line under the sorry mess and move on.

[PaulWinch again]

The problem is the unfairness of singling a player out. He shouldn't be told he's got no chance of selection, the team should be made up of the 11 best players. It's as simple as that, if he is one of those he should get in and if he isn't he shouldn't. Also it's a particularly dangerous argument to say Pietersen was in decline and shouldn't be picked. On that basis why did they keep Cook for the last 2 years? You can't have one rule for a one player, because you don't like him personally, and then have another rule for someone you get on with.

[Chris Smith]

The problem is the unfairness of singling a player out. He shouldn't be told he's got no chance of selection, the team should be made up of the 11 best players. It's as simple as that, if he is one of those he should get in and if he isn't he shouldn't. Also it's a particularly dangerous argument to say Pietersen was in decline and shouldn't be picked. On that basis why did they keep Cook for the last 2 years? You can't have one rule for a one player, because you don't like him personally, and then have another rule for someone you get on with.

I disagree, if one of those players has a big detrimental impact on morale then for the overall good of the squad it is better to move on without him. There is more to team building then just picking the eleven best players.

[Chris Jameson]

I see his mate 'Warney' has picked his England team and selected his mate at the expense of Ballance. Surprised Root made the team.

It's never going to end this tedious saga is it?

[aev]

The problem is the unfairness of singling a player out. He shouldn't be told he's got no chance of selection, the team should be made up of the 11 best players. It's as simple as that, if he is one of those he should get in and if he isn't he shouldn't. Also it's a particularly dangerous argument to say Pietersen was in decline and shouldn't be picked. On that basis why did they keep Cook for the last 2 years? You can't have one rule for a one player, because you don't like him personally, and then have another rule for someone you get on with.

I disagree, if one of those players has a big detrimental impact on morale then for the overall good of the squad it is better to move on without him. There is more to team building then just picking the eleven best players.

And also Cook is a fair bit younger so has far more years ahead of him.

Pietersen's batting has been in decline for a while now. I'd much rather they stick with Bell, Balance and Root in the middle order.

[PaulWinch again]

The problem is the unfairness of singling a player out. He shouldn't be told he's got no chance of selection, the team should be made up of the 11 best players. It's as simple as that, if he is one of those he should get in and if he isn't he shouldn't. Also it's a particularly dangerous argument to say Pietersen was in decline and shouldn't be picked. On that basis why did they keep Cook for the last 2 years? You can't have one rule for a one player, because you don't like him personally, and then have another rule for someone you get on with.

I disagree, if one of those players has a big detrimental impact on morale then for the overall good of the squad it is better to move on without him. There is more to team building then just picking the eleven best players.

I'd agree if there was clear evidence that removing that person from the changing room had cause a big improvement in form. But that hasn't been the case, England have pretty much continued on pretty poor form other than 3 Tests against India. I'm not saying he should definitely play I'm saying he should be given a fair chance. He was clearly made a scapegoat for the Ashes when there were/are much deeper problems.

[PaulWinch again]

I see his mate 'Warney' has picked his England team and selected his mate at the expense of Ballance. Surprised Root made the team.

It's never going to end this tedious saga is it?

Well that's clearly ridiculous. If anyone was under threat it would be Bell.

[edgysatsuma89]

Strauss must have loved KP doing that yesterday. Quite funny.

[aev]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/07/the-spin-kevin-pietersen-book

I think this, written 9 months ago, sums it up perfectly for me.