The big difference between Pietersen and Flintoff is that he hasn't got his own bowling to factor into the equation.
Flintoff always had his own status as the bowling TALISMAN at the back of his mind when he was captaining the side. Pietersen has none of this baggage and can concentrate on his captaincy in the field without worrying if he should be bowling.
Time will tell if his form suffers but his performance in the press conference would seem to indicate that he is RELISHING the challenge.
Good luck to him.
Sorry state of affairs when we have to turn to a South African to captain the England cricket team.
Actually I think he's more English than the last South African we has as captain (Tony Greig for those of you not around in the 1970s).Sorry state of affairs when we have to turn to a South African to captain the England cricket team.
Tell me how Ravi Bopara has jumped ahead of Shah in the pecking order? He must feel the unluckiest cricketer alive.