KP to quit playing test cricket for England?

[keaton]

Whether he's right or wrong, my issue with him is the timing of his decision.

If he's going to throw his toys out the pram then do it at the end of the series, not when we are facing our most important Test match for years in a matter of days. Now all the focus will be on him 'just in case' it's his last test match.

But it's not his timing really is it? They've been asking the questions throughout the whole series, almost certainly because someone in the squad has leaked it. On Sunday Prior had to answer about about 7 or 8 questions about Pietersen rather than anything else.

 

[severnside gull]

Can't honestly see how or why the TCCB would allow a player to pick and choose when he plays - not fair to the rest of the team.
I love KP for the excitement he brings but he is one of the most conceited and entirely ego-centric people on the planet

 

[rjbseagull]

But it's not his timing really is it? They've been asking the questions throughout the whole series, almost certainly because someone in the squad has leaked it. On Sunday Prior had to answer about about 7 or 8 questions about Pietersen rather than anything else.

So why didn't Pietersen not come out and silence the rumours yesterday then, or at least play them down? Even if he does end up quitting after the next test, at least the focus shifts back on to the team that way.

I'm not denying it had been leaked, but i don't think KP helps himself.

 

[Common as Mook]

"It's not easy being me in this England dressing room"

Do f*** off. We'll be absolutely fine without him.

 

[Billy the Fish]

I hate the english mentality sometimes.

We love losers who try hard and keep their head down. Whenever we get someone who's talented but a bit arrogant everyone gives them shit!

KP is the best player in that team by a mile and he was stabbed in the back by the press and the ECB blazers when they decided they didn't want him as captain. He's not been the same since that happened, I'm not surprised that he wants to look after himself after how he's been treated. I don't care if he's an arsehole, he's a winner.

 

[keaton]

So why didn't Pietersen not come out and silence the rumours yesterday then, or at least play them down? Even if he does end up quitting after the next test, at least the focus shifts back on to the team that way.

I'm not denying it had been leaked, but i don't think KP helps himself.

I don't know. I do know no-one kicked up this fuss when Flintoff said he was retiring one match into the Ashes series

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I hate the english mentality sometimes.

We love losers who try hard and keep their head down. Whenever we get someone who's talented but a bit arrogant everyone gives them shit!

KP is the best player in that team by a mile and he was stabbed in the back by the press and the ECB blazers when they decided they didn't want him as captain. He's not been the same since that happened, I'm not surprised that he wants to look after himself after how he's been treated. I don't care if he's an arsehole, he's a winner.

That's not what happened though, is it. He was never going to get on with Moores, and they decided it couldn't go on - the fact that they got rid of both was a bit of a surprise. I'm guessing the situation showed that Moores was never going to be what they wanted, and KP ws never going to be unselfish enough to be a good captain, so they made the right choice.

 

[ROSM]

The captaincy leaks came from KP himself. He was trying to oust Moores and hoped to persuade senior players like Flintoff to back him by getting the situation public. It backfired and the ECB gave him a taste of his own medicine by making conversations he'd had with them, public.

 

[ROSM]

I don't know. I do know no-one kicked up this fuss when Flintoff said he was retiring one match into the Ashes series

Probably because there hadn't been a question about Flintoff's commitment to the team and his country. Yes there were questions about his refuelling habits and the press laboured on those - but not his attitude or effect on the team.

 

[Dave the OAP]

I think a lot of this is driven by the Rupee. KP wants to play the IPL in its entirety and the ECB want him back so he can play against New Zealand, which he thinks is beneath him. BUT he has a central contract and the ECB want him to honour it!

Personally I think we have no-one coming through who is on Pietersen's level as much as a typical arrogant Saffie that he is, so I would allow him to play the IPL and try and bring on people like Bairstow and taylor in whilst he is off and then have him back when its finished.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

All this makes perfect sense if KP's argument was that he wanted to rest with his family. It isn't though. He wants to miss the tour of NZ so he can play the entire IPL and then he still wants to be in for the Ashes. If there is too much cricket, why does he want to play the entire IPL? Doesn't make sense. He wants his cake, and he wants to eat double helpings.

Thats a typical argument you make, always trotted out. But there is nothing wrong with wanting to do something else other than playing for England. Because that's all the best cricketers lot is now - England, England, England, all year round. The players are owned by the management, dictating when they play for their county, when they don't. They can be 'rested' against their will, like Broad and Anderson against the West Indies last month, or KP last year for ODI's, but treated like shit when they say they want a rest or want to take part in the world's leading T20 competition.

Is there another sport like this? It should be an honour to represent your country, not a chore.

 

[METALMICKY]

All this makes perfect sense if KP's argument was that he wanted to rest with his family. It isn't though. He wants to miss the tour of NZ so he can play the entire IPL and then he still wants to be in for the Ashes. If there is too much cricket, why does he want to play the entire IPL? Doesn't make sense. He wants his cake, and he wants to eat double helpings.

Absolutely spot on! He never moans about playing too much cricket if theres serious wonga involved like with the IPL. Can be a batting genius but i'm with the majority who feel that he is an arrogant self centered twat!

 

[Gritt23]

Looks like our favourite egotistical (but brilliant) cricketer might be throwing his toys out of the pram for good.

As much as I love to watch him, I'm pretty much sick of the whole egomania that comes with him now. If he is thinking about quitting, then I say let him go, and let's move on. It is NOT all about KP, as much as he'd love it to be.

Hard to believe a man who loves the limelight would actually want to walk away from it, but I'm just so tired of hearing about it.

It's like the slim(ish) girl in teh office telling us how fat she is, or how she needs to lose 7lbs, expecting everyone to jump in and compliment her figure. KP is expecting everyone to coo all around him saying how brilliant he is, and vital to teh team, and if he wants to miss the first series of each summer to play IPL, then of course he can, because we'll do anything for him, blah blah sickbag.

Naah, bored of the sideshow KP, if you want to retire, just bloody do it ... but once gone, you're GONE! It's not a revolving door.

 

[sten_super]

As much as I love to watch him, I'm pretty much sick of the whole egomania that comes with him now. If he is thinking about quitting, then I say let him go, and let's move on. It is NOT all about KP, as much as he'd love it to be.

Hard to believe a man who loves the limelight would actually want to walk away from it, but I'm just so tired of hearing about it.

It's like the slim(ish) girl in teh office telling us how fat she is, or how she needs to lose 7lbs, expecting everyone to jump in and compliment her figure. KP is expecting everyone to coo all around him saying how brilliant he is, and vital to teh team, and if he wants to miss the first series of each summer to play IPL, then of course he can, because we'll do anything for him, blah blah sickbag.

Naah, bored of the sideshow KP, if you want to retire, just bloody do it ... but once gone, you're GONE! It's not a revolving door.

Very much this. I've stuck up for him in the past, but I think the time has come now to draw a line in the sand. If he doesn't want to take part, fair enough, let's move on. Push Bell up to 4, Taylor at 5 and next cab off the rank (Bairstow or Morgan?) in at 6.

 

[Gritt23]

Very much this. I've stuck up for him in the past, but I think the time has come now to draw a line in the sand. If he doesn't want to take part, fair enough, let's move on. Push Bell up to 4, Taylor at 5 and next cab off the rank (Bairstow or Morgan?) in at 6.

Exactly. I've also stuck up for him, as well as get a little frustrated when he gets out to a flashy shot when we needed to survive, but hey, the shots come off and invariably the pressure is relieved etc.

But the "outbursts" are just becoming too regular now, and it always looks like a route to being able to play IPL. Whether it's retiring from T20, or limited overs, or making himself available again, or talking about retiring from Tests, talk of "politics" etc. FFS, KP, the England set-up of Strauss and Flower did a phenomenal job of turning teh ship back around after teh carnage that was created by KP / Moores, and I just don't see them allowing another sideshow to bring everything crashing back down again.

We are currently 1-0 down in a short series which could cost us our place at the top of the Test rankings. If KP thinks this is the time to make headlines about whether he will continue playing or not, then I'm afraid that speak volumes for just how little committment he has to keeping England on the top of the pile. With that being the case, it is probably time for him to be ushered away stage left.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Have the ECB finally realised that he's actually South African then?

 

[MJsGhost]

In my opinion, Pietersen is a user. Self centred, egotistical... completely selfish.

He left SA for one reason – money. He blamed the quota system at the time – favouring black players over white – but it doesn’t seem to have massively impacted other white players coming through since has it...? Funnily enough though, Pietersen has hugely benefitted financially by throwing his lot in with English cricket (more money in county cricket, central contracts, better endorsements etc). Now that he has used English cricket as a stepping stone and wants to get his hands on all the money available to him in the IPL, he wants to get it his own way – keep the steady money coming in (central contract, endorsements reliant on his profile in English cricket), but get the maximum he can from the IPL too.

What a talent though – gifted in the extreme and a joy to watch when he’s on form. An entertainer in the extreme, which does stem from his ego, so I guess it’s a case of not being able to have the pearl without putting up with the grit...

Unfortunately for him, the team has got to come first - the cost to team spirit of making allowances for him would be greater than the benefit of keeping him happy, so he should be thrown out on his ear... His batting will be sorely missed though!

 

[red star portslade]

Has anybody read the fake kevpieterson24 twitter account? Very funny.

 

[The Large One]

Has anybody read the fake kevpieterson24 twitter account? Very funny.

Derek Pringle's take on this...

England batsman Kevin Pietersen believes team-mates behind Twitter account that is holding up new contract - Telegraph

 

[VeronaSeagull]

In fairness to KP he was great value when he came down to play at Newick cricket club the other week. Amazing to see him, Flintoff, Ramprakash and Lennox Lewis line up against a Sussex village side along with Piers Morgan.

KP didn't field in either of the T20's we played but his batting was great