Morning:
13°c
Captain gone, coach sacked - what a way for English cricket to start the new year. But, contrary to what a lot of people at the ECB might think, thank goodness it has all come to a head now, rather than early next summer on the eve of a Twenty20 World Cup and an Ashes series.
The board have been very cross about this issue getting out in the open, saying the positions of Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores (right) were untenable once that happened which, of course, is true.
But just suppose this clearly massive rift between captain and coach had still been festering throughout the Caribbean tour. It would surely have exploded some time and think how much worse the whole mess would have seemed in May at the start of what should be the biggest summer ever for English cricket.
I know this has been embarrassing, and it looks a truly chaotic state of affairs. But at least this way there is time to re-group and they've got a sensible, widely respected bloke in Andrew Strauss to captain the team and try to calm things down. Mind you, I don't envy him the task very much because that dressing room is going to be a very interesting place for the next couple of months.
This has been quite a shock for Pietersen because I think he felt he had much more support among the team, with a big majority behind him, than clearly proved to be the case. And there might be one or two players wondering whether it would be better if KP had decided not to go on the Caribbean tour so everyone could take a breather. But if anyone among that group can haul England out of this mess and get a bit of spirit back into the camp then it is Strauss.
That's why I hope they appoint him for the whole West Indies tour, one-dayers and all, so we can get through to April when there will probably be a new coach in place and then the summer can be looked at.
As for Pietersen, he has to put this behind him, and at least he has clearly stated he wants to go to the West Indies.
I'm sure there will be people in the team who feel he behaved like a complete idiot over his dispute with Moores, and they'll also be cross with him for putting them in the firing line - having to be interrogated by Hugh Morris as to where their loyalties lie. So it is going to be an interesting environment.
However, the one thing about Pietersen, which has been his failing as a leader but a great plus as a batsman, is that he's a pretty selfish, single-minded bloke, and he will simply get on with his batting. I've no doubt he will score a lot of runs. Yes, he will hurt inside but he's got the front to ride it out.
Pietersen has been at the centre of dressing room rows wherever he's gone but it's never stopped him making big runs.
He's more than used to being Mr Unpopular so he'll absorb any negative vibe, walk out to bat as big, brash KP and play without displaying any obvious sign of what has happened. But I suspect he will be locking himself away quietly at night.
So can Pietersen be captain again? No, I really don't think so. There was a sharp intake of breath when they appointed him and I always felt he was not going to last. He should just be a player.
There are great players - and he is a great player - who should not be saddled with politics, and thinking about team-mates and all the other things a captain has to do.
He should just go out do what he does best - score runs.
Reader views (3)
Aggers,
I agree with you. What a mess! Is there not someone attached to the squad who could have short circuited this before it became public? This is the stuff of Pakistan not England! Writing from dear little Tasmania down south of the equator I am flabbergasted that the ECB thingy let it get to this. How very unprofessional. Please ensure you sort it out quickly otherwise we won't send Skull over to keep you company this year!
Kind Regards
Richard the Giant
- Richard The Giant, hobart tasmania
In the corporate world there are well accepted competencies for any leader: take your people along with you, manage your stakeholders most importantly your own boss and resolve issues, professionally but not in public. Often, brilliant but selfish and maverick individuals do not fulfill these criteria and therefore never made leaders but still retained as team members provided they can at least be acceptable team members. KP has clearly failed as a captain and anyone would have told the ECB that he lacks the required skills. Hopefully Strauss can ensure that KP at least remains a team-player: we need his brilliant batsmanship.
- Nat, New Malden, UK
In the corporate world there are well accepted competencies for any leader: take your people along with you, manage your stakeholders most importantly your own boss and resolve issues, professionally but not in public. Often, brilliant but selfish and maverick individuals do not fulfill these criteria and therefore never made leaders but still retained as team members provided they can at least be acceptable team members. KP has clearly failed as a captain and anyone would have told the ECB that he lacks the required skills. Hopefully Strauss can ensure that KP at least remains a team-player: we need his brilliant batsmanship.
- Nat, New Malden, UK
