When I queried Kevin Pietersen's ability to bat at number 4 for England, I was hoping to be proved wrong. it was not a criticism of his undoubted talent or ability, but rather one about his mental state while batting for his country. Despite showing flourishes of pure brilliance since the beginning of the India series, once again he has let himself down. Not so much the team, but more frustratingly himself.
Whipping Kumar through mid-wicket and literally running at Mishra, Pietersen's 50 at Edgbaston was a joy to watch. This was until the all-too familiar sight of a bored KP started to take over. A soft dismissal of playing inside an outswinger from Kumar came as no surprise as, once again, having played so elegantly and patiently for his half century, a period of silliness and almost boredom was apparent in Pietersen's batting ever since the moment of raising his bat.
Pietersen's innings had appeared so easy and effortless for an hour, but then he suddenly lost it, lost his once-steady head, resulting in what looked like too much effort and a subsequently unnecessary dismissal.
Once the new ball came and there was movement, Pietersen seemed to lose all focus and momentum. This is not acceptable for England's number 4. It is always said that the best batsmen turn 50s into hundreds, and there is no reason why Pietersen could not have turned one of his best ever 50s into a century, and maybe an additonal 50 runs on top of that. There is no excuse, apart from an unstable mental attitude. What else could explain a batsman with his eye in and 50 beautifully crafted runs under his belt becoming unfocused and bored.
He does this too often. Too many times has KP got himself 30 or 50 runs only to fall victim to his own mental attitude and consequently run past a straight one. Its almost amusing to witness a physical deterioration in his technique and shot selection once he feels his job is done. A batsman's job is never done until the game is won, and Pietersen needs to realise this and start showing that he is a player capable of more than one big innings a year.
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
KP vs Yuvraj: This time it's personal.
Controversial batsman and personality Kevin Pietersen can be sure to look forward to a battle of psychology as well as cricket when he takes to the field on Thursday for the First test against India. Cricket has for years been a source of some great personality clashes on and off the pitch, and the upcoming series is sure to be no different.
Conflicts at a personal level will come as nothing new to Pietersen, having already been involved in some fantastic, if not occasionally petty, confrontations with some of the world's biggest cricketing personalities. Just as it should be in sport, Pietersen's ongoing competition with Australia's Brett Lee is an example of one of the great sporting rivalries, with good sportsmanship and surprisingly witty banter at the heart of it all.
The difference this time, however, is that India will be walking through the Grace Gates on Thursday with a certain Yuvraj Singh plotting his very own intimate battle with Pietersen, apparently this time with no care for friendship.
2008 saw Pietersen famously refer to Yuvraj as a "pie-chucker", to which the Indian did not take too kindly. India's world cup hero has apparently set his sights on revenge. "I would definitely want to get back at Pietersen", said Yuvraj, "I am willing to play some tricks on him". These tricks he speaks of are yet unknown, but it is apparent that the mind games have already started, and Pietersen should be prepared for a personal contest as well as a hard-fought series.
The question as to whether it should be Bresnan or Broad to take the new ball at Lords will no doubt be a matter of debate long into the series. But with Yuvraj fully fit and apparently taking no prisoners, if Broad is chosen he will find it difficult to forget the six deliveries he saw disappear back over his head in 2007. Yuvraj will be eager to live up to the title of India's world cup hero, whilst also looking to settle some scores at a personal level. Watch out Pietersen, and reinforce those windows Matty Prior, Yuvraj is in town.
Conflicts at a personal level will come as nothing new to Pietersen, having already been involved in some fantastic, if not occasionally petty, confrontations with some of the world's biggest cricketing personalities. Just as it should be in sport, Pietersen's ongoing competition with Australia's Brett Lee is an example of one of the great sporting rivalries, with good sportsmanship and surprisingly witty banter at the heart of it all.
The difference this time, however, is that India will be walking through the Grace Gates on Thursday with a certain Yuvraj Singh plotting his very own intimate battle with Pietersen, apparently this time with no care for friendship.
2008 saw Pietersen famously refer to Yuvraj as a "pie-chucker", to which the Indian did not take too kindly. India's world cup hero has apparently set his sights on revenge. "I would definitely want to get back at Pietersen", said Yuvraj, "I am willing to play some tricks on him". These tricks he speaks of are yet unknown, but it is apparent that the mind games have already started, and Pietersen should be prepared for a personal contest as well as a hard-fought series.
The question as to whether it should be Bresnan or Broad to take the new ball at Lords will no doubt be a matter of debate long into the series. But with Yuvraj fully fit and apparently taking no prisoners, if Broad is chosen he will find it difficult to forget the six deliveries he saw disappear back over his head in 2007. Yuvraj will be eager to live up to the title of India's world cup hero, whilst also looking to settle some scores at a personal level. Watch out Pietersen, and reinforce those windows Matty Prior, Yuvraj is in town.
Sunday, 17 July 2011
KP: England's X-Factor or another Red Cross case?
Legends of the cricketing world Michael Vaughan and Shane Warne have recently shared the view that England's upcoming Test series vs India will see the rebirth of Kevin Pietersen's test form. Speaking in the Daily Telegraph, the former England captain portrayed an idea of an "x-factor series", believing that the big crowds which the Indian team will undoubtedly bring to England's test venues are just what Pietersen needs to make the most of his undoubted talent at the crease.
There is no doubt that Pietersen has talent. A Test average of 48.16 is not the sign of a bad player. Not even his biggest critics could deny that he has natural ability. These critics however, are the most opinionated and often-knowledgeable individuals in the cricketing world: the general public. Cricket fans across the country have become increasingly frustrated with KP's inconsistent form which has resembled a yo-yo for as long as I can remember. I don't think there has been a season where we could say without doubt that Pietersen was in "good nick" for a period longer than a few matches.
With England needing to win the series by two clear tests in order to steal the No.1 Test spot from their opponents, Aussie spin-legend Warne believes that Pietersen can potentially "provide the x-factor" and find his form to help his side achieve this unlikely feat.
However, it is all very well that ex-pros can praise Pietersen for his talent and warn about the danger he poses to England's opponents, but a potential danger and an undoubted talent will not win test matches unless he performs out in the middle. In my opinion Pietersen is yet to really reward his surprisingly loyal fans. His female fan base will always remain I'm sure..after all, who wouldn't get hot under the collar when faced with a topless Pietersen cluthcing a Pepsi. Anyone who know's about cricket however, will realise that the next two few months are a crucial time in Pietersen's England career. I think we should reserve judgement about England's apparent "best player", after all, you won't score runs by changing your necklace every week and I'm beginning to think that Red Bull is doing the opposite of giving KP his wings.
It is often said that a player in form gets all the luck. Pietersen claims that the draw of luck has not been on his side recently. But how recent is recently? This leads me to my next point: it seems to be always someone else's fault. Either the press are on his back, or he's just "in a bad place right now". Constant promises that the next Test will be "the one" have lost meaning with consistent failures. Yes, KP has often performed when he has needed to; his knock of 227 in the second Ashes test of England's success Down Under will be unforgettable, and little cameos with strike rates of 100+ have been valuable, but surely the number 4 slot in England's notoriously shakey top order needs stability and some sort of guarantee. I don't believe that Pietersen brings this stability to the side.
Pietersen's apparent external locust of control tells me that the majority of his problems lie within his head. Cricket is without doubt such a psychological game, possibly more so than any other sport, and concentration and mental stability are key to success. Would it be unfair to suggest that Pietersen does not have the mental state of mind required to bat for his country? I don't think it would. Players will always have periods of poor form. A noticeable example is the new One day captain Alistair Cook, who came under intense scrutiny with his role as England captain being questioned as well as his role in the team at all. Cook had every right to feel sorry for himself and tweet his disgust at his treatment by the press, but instead he did what is expected of every professional sportsman and silenced his critics with his performances on the pitch. It's time that Pietersen took a leaf out of courageous Cook's book and put a string of strong performances together at the crease to get his critics back on his side; a series with the No.1 Test spot at stake has no room for an inconsistent number 4 more active on Twitter than he has been on the scorecard.
Further proof that Pietersen's interests lie primarily off the pitch comes in his reaction to being called 'English', to which he angrily responded, "I'm not English, I just work here". So the Thee Lions tattoo'd on your arm are just another image thing are they Kev? It's these sort of petty confrontations which Pietersen gets involved in that are detracting his concentration away from the game itself, and the last thing England needs, let alone Pietersen himself, is a distraction with a crucial Test series fast approaching.
So will Vaughany and Warney be proved right? Will KP be England's x-factor and earn that record deal of a place on the Lord's Honours Board? I would love them to be right; a Pietersen century at Lord's is what everyone will be dreaming of, and what an opportunity for an individual who apparently thrives under pressure and buzzes off expectation. But I have an all too familiar feeling that, unless Pietersen stops worrying about his sponsors and how he looks at the crease, those kids queuing for hours by the Nursery Ground for that treasured KP autograph will be disappointed once again.
There is no doubt that Pietersen has talent. A Test average of 48.16 is not the sign of a bad player. Not even his biggest critics could deny that he has natural ability. These critics however, are the most opinionated and often-knowledgeable individuals in the cricketing world: the general public. Cricket fans across the country have become increasingly frustrated with KP's inconsistent form which has resembled a yo-yo for as long as I can remember. I don't think there has been a season where we could say without doubt that Pietersen was in "good nick" for a period longer than a few matches.
With England needing to win the series by two clear tests in order to steal the No.1 Test spot from their opponents, Aussie spin-legend Warne believes that Pietersen can potentially "provide the x-factor" and find his form to help his side achieve this unlikely feat.
However, it is all very well that ex-pros can praise Pietersen for his talent and warn about the danger he poses to England's opponents, but a potential danger and an undoubted talent will not win test matches unless he performs out in the middle. In my opinion Pietersen is yet to really reward his surprisingly loyal fans. His female fan base will always remain I'm sure..after all, who wouldn't get hot under the collar when faced with a topless Pietersen cluthcing a Pepsi. Anyone who know's about cricket however, will realise that the next two few months are a crucial time in Pietersen's England career. I think we should reserve judgement about England's apparent "best player", after all, you won't score runs by changing your necklace every week and I'm beginning to think that Red Bull is doing the opposite of giving KP his wings.
It is often said that a player in form gets all the luck. Pietersen claims that the draw of luck has not been on his side recently. But how recent is recently? This leads me to my next point: it seems to be always someone else's fault. Either the press are on his back, or he's just "in a bad place right now". Constant promises that the next Test will be "the one" have lost meaning with consistent failures. Yes, KP has often performed when he has needed to; his knock of 227 in the second Ashes test of England's success Down Under will be unforgettable, and little cameos with strike rates of 100+ have been valuable, but surely the number 4 slot in England's notoriously shakey top order needs stability and some sort of guarantee. I don't believe that Pietersen brings this stability to the side.
Pietersen's apparent external locust of control tells me that the majority of his problems lie within his head. Cricket is without doubt such a psychological game, possibly more so than any other sport, and concentration and mental stability are key to success. Would it be unfair to suggest that Pietersen does not have the mental state of mind required to bat for his country? I don't think it would. Players will always have periods of poor form. A noticeable example is the new One day captain Alistair Cook, who came under intense scrutiny with his role as England captain being questioned as well as his role in the team at all. Cook had every right to feel sorry for himself and tweet his disgust at his treatment by the press, but instead he did what is expected of every professional sportsman and silenced his critics with his performances on the pitch. It's time that Pietersen took a leaf out of courageous Cook's book and put a string of strong performances together at the crease to get his critics back on his side; a series with the No.1 Test spot at stake has no room for an inconsistent number 4 more active on Twitter than he has been on the scorecard.
Further proof that Pietersen's interests lie primarily off the pitch comes in his reaction to being called 'English', to which he angrily responded, "I'm not English, I just work here". So the Thee Lions tattoo'd on your arm are just another image thing are they Kev? It's these sort of petty confrontations which Pietersen gets involved in that are detracting his concentration away from the game itself, and the last thing England needs, let alone Pietersen himself, is a distraction with a crucial Test series fast approaching.
So will Vaughany and Warney be proved right? Will KP be England's x-factor and earn that record deal of a place on the Lord's Honours Board? I would love them to be right; a Pietersen century at Lord's is what everyone will be dreaming of, and what an opportunity for an individual who apparently thrives under pressure and buzzes off expectation. But I have an all too familiar feeling that, unless Pietersen stops worrying about his sponsors and how he looks at the crease, those kids queuing for hours by the Nursery Ground for that treasured KP autograph will be disappointed once again.
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