Just over a week has passed since
the ECB’s decision to rid cricket fans of one of the most talented batsmen the
game has produced and still a definitive explanation for his dismissal has yet
to be announced. Evoking plenty of speculation, social media reaction, fervent
support from a media mogul and vigorous arguments on either side of one of the
most contentious debates in Cricket’s long history, yet still no one but the
officials in charge of the national side know the full reasons behind the
release of their star player. For those who have been living under a rock for
the past eight days and are unaware of England’s latest bewildering issues
following The Ashes debacle, here it is in a nutshell; Kevin Pietersen’s flamboyant
and highly controversial England career was concluded by the ECB last Tuesday.
In an international career spanning
ten years, comprising of exhilarating innings, extraordinary shot selection and
brandishing a pugnacious style
that has transformed this most calming of sports, Kevin Pietersen’s England
stay was as problematic as it was brilliant. However his undisputed ability
was unable him to save him from the England stalwarts and Pietersen was shown
the door, following the footsteps of his team director, Andy Flower the week
before. Just as with the departure of Flower the proceeding week, there was no
news conference or interviews and therefore no chance or opportunity to ask
justifiable and warranted questions behind the reason to jettison such a
prestigious talent. Instead what has been left is a series of extremely brief
and terse scripted statements from England’s governing body, causing excessive
rumour and conjecture. Instead of thoroughly explaining the matter, the ECB’s
static stance of not elaborating reason has caused many assumptions and claim
and counter-claim, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of cricket followers,
scratching their heads wondering what on earth is happening.
After the statement reading that
Pietersen’s contract was axed with no discernible explanation, media coverage
was full frontal. Twitter exploded with Piers Morgan in particular waving the
flag for Pietersen creating the hashtag “#ECBClowns,” the back pages of every
national newspaper dominated the dismissal as did Sky Sports, including a
noteworthy tribute to the South African-born batsman; Kevin Pietersen, his
finest innings and even sympathy from the Prime Minister. Journalists and ex-
players, English and international got involved as did huge number of cricket
fans the world over expressing their views on the decision, some in support,
most strongly disputing that the ECB had got it completely wrong. With such
media backlash, the ECB was forced to front up, explain and validate the truth
behind Pietersen’s exit. Five days later a joint statement with the
Professional Cricketers’ Association was released stating that Pietersen's international career was ended so captain Alastair Cook could create
a culture where players trust each other. It went on to defend the ECB’s
absence of explanation and that it had “been a matter of great frustration that until now the
ECB had been unable to respond to unwarranted and unpleasant criticism of
England players and the ECB.” Despite a vague summary of
the departure, the statement was a huge disappointment and only caused more of
an obstacle and dilemma on this increasingly embarrassing predicament. For
many of us demanding clear-cut reasons for Kevin Pietersen's departure, the
statement did very little to enhance understanding and improve moral towards
the ECB. Seemingly a reaction to the
criticism, which has been directed at the ECB from many sources outside the
game rather than a diligent list of reasons for Pietersen’s exit, the statement
only went on to defend the integrity of those who have come under what they
have described as unwarranted and unpleasant criticism.
While not elaborating on specific
events, no single flashpoint or confrontation, it was deemed by Paul Downton, England’s new
managing director that the necessary trust required to propel the
England team functioning well was disintegrated by a series of minor incidents.
One incident in particular surrounds Pietersen’s apparent disagreement with
Andy Flower in a team meeting following the Fourth Test at Melbourne, which led
to his relationship with the former team director breaking down completely.
Though trust and team ethics is a fundamental part of team sports, it appears
strange the mutual trust which Pietersen spectacularly broke in 2012 when he sent derogatory
messages about England captain Andrew Strauss, to the touring South Africans
was forgiven but this is not. Following his retirement after the third test
Graeme Swann told the media that rumours of rifts in the dressing room were
completely made up and that Pietersen’s behaviour had improved drastically
since the “textgate” episode in 2012. With Andy Flower out of the picture and
appearing to take the responsibility for the Ashes humiliation, it is hard to
fully understand the exit of England’s best player too. If Pietersen was this
self obsessed, arrogant and far from team player why wasn't this scripted in a
dignified and appropriate manner within a statement by the England Cricket
Board? If he was this troublesome and abstruse character in the dressing room
why was he allowed to play in all five test matches of the Ashes? Everywhere
Pietersen has gone he has proved to be a decisive individual, whether it was in
his native Natal side in South Africa or during his county career at
Nottingham, however his brilliance on the pitch and ability to play unthinkable
innings outweighed his troublesome personality. The ECB was responsible for
this decision and to adequately explain the exact reasons why. Instead they
brandished a dissembling, self-justification and a futile exercise in damage
limitation, showcasing a governing body obsessed with image and presentation
rather than achievement. .jpg)
Despite
the belligerent nature surrounding Pietersen’s exit from the international
scene, it will be a great shame, not just to England but world cricket that he
won’t be performing in his adopted country’s colours again. Casting his
inconvenient issues aside, world cricket will be robbed of one of the most
talented batsmen to grace the game. Pietersen was the outsider from South
Africa who attracted people to cricket. His talent made people sit up, exit the
bars in cricket grounds around the world and watch in amazement as he tore
apart some of the best bowlers in the world with minimal effort. His talented
nature appeared different, rare and peculiar to those of us with lesser
ability, who would imagine ourselves with an inch of his genius guarding it in
a jealous fit, however Pietersen demonstrated it on the world stage and could
not have batted the way he did without being the man he is. There were some
batsmen more proficient and skilled, but his instinctive ingenuity and
originality pushed him to a higher level, becoming possibly the most feared
all-round batsman in the world. His game was based on creativity and immense
power and it's no exaggeration to say that he caricatured the level of
batsmanship, along with the likes of Chris Gayle of the West Indies and
Virender Sehwag of India, creating a whole new dimension of stroke play. His
stats elate to an impeccable career: 8,181
runs at an average of 47 in 104 Tests, 4,440 runs in 136 one-day
internationals, 1,176 runs in 37 Twenty20s. He is England’s leading run scorer
in Internationals, the fastest man in terms of time to reach 7000 Test runs, he
has more Test appearances than Wally Hammond, Ted Dexter and Peter May, a
higher Test average than David Gower, Geoff Boycott and Colin Cowdrey, and
second only to Alastair Cook with most Test centuries for England. His career will never be
seen as complete and his talent has certainly not been wasted. As of today The
Delhi Daredevils have paid £800, 000 for his signature and a return to the IPL.
Now not committed to England duty he will become a Twenty Twenty mercenary
across the globe and after the way the ECB have treated the issue, who could
blame him? Pietersen's legacy is not one of numbers, but what his batting has
meant to those who have watched it. Three players will be in line to take his
position in the Test side: Eoin Morgan, Gary Ballance and James Taylor. All three
will be pushing for selection, but not for many years has the England team
looked so exposed and weak. If results don’t go England’s way, a new scapegoat
will be made, this time not Pietersen but instead the people responsible for
his departure. 