For the second time in little more than a week we find ourselves in the unfamiliar position of defending Kevin Pietersen.
The ECB's petty decision last week to discipline Pietersen for his mild criticism of Nick Knight on Twitter seems to have cost them the services of their best batsman after KP today announced his retirement from limited overs international cricket with immediate effect.
Whilst the little Englanders and KP’s detractors in the media will doubtless point to the fact that he still intends to participate in the IPL, most of our sympathy lies with Pietersen.
The simple fact is that England play too much 50 over cricket; this summer there are 13 matches (or is it 14, it’s difficult to keep count) and then a further seven in India later in the year. Not only does it dilute the brand whilst sending even the most fervent pyjama cricket fan to sleep, it leaves the players tired of the format and spending too much time away from their young families.
Whilst KP’s timing isn’t great with England set to defend their World T20 crown in Sri Lanka in four months – a point made rather pettily by the ‘disappointed’ Hugh Morris in the wake of Pietersen's announcement, the ECB’s insistence of an all or nothing approach to limited overs cricket kind of made it inevitable.
Pietersen said he would like to be in Sri Lanka to help England defend the trophy that he played a major part in them lifting in 2010, but the intransigence of the ECB prevented this. KP is 31, has a young family and is financially secure for life, so when his employers decided to punish him for going public on his views on Knight, it seems that it was the final straw. Can anyone really blame him?
We’ve certainly got no bones with Pietersen’s decision. He’s served England well in the 50 over format and his retirement gives a younger player the opportunity to establish himself before the World Cup in 2015. Those referencing the IPL are barking up the wrong tree. We’re no great lovers of the tournament, but it lasts for six weeks of which Pietersen is unlikely ever to play a full part due to his Test commitments.
And let’s look on the bright side. As well as hopefully extending his Test career, we could be seeing a lot more of him in county cricket for Surrey. Isn’t there a T20 competition starting soon?
Where next?
Nick Compton: runs and jokes at Kevin Pietersen's expense
Kevin Pietersen is innocent (and right about Nick Knight)
It's not jealously KP, it's pure and simple indifference
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Can anyone really blame him? Well, yes. Yes they can. A lot of people already have. Sure, the ECB can be pompous and self-righteous, and this ridiculous fine over a pretty uncontroversial Tweet is one example. But KP's offer to play in the upcoming World T20 was disingenuous at best.
He knew the rules - he knew perfectly well that it wouldn't be allowed. It was a hollow 'offer', that I suspect was made to deflect criticism and make him appear the good guy. Would it have really hurt him to take the fine on the chin and see out the World T20 and then retire? No. KP's doing what's best for KP, as usual. Not English cricket. His decision to retire with immediate effect smacks of toys out of the pram. His batting always surprises and amazes us. His attitude doesn't.
Posted by: That_Chap_Lordy | Friday, June 01, 2012 at 10:14
I'm all for the "fuck odi & T20" bandwagon (except maybe for the world events). A couple here and there are fine (as is the case with T20 atm), but 5 or 7 match odi series??? As long as it doesn't make him less focused on tests or cricket in general, then I'm all for Kev.
As for Nick Knight, he genuinely seems like a nice chap, but it's hard to disagree with the tweet.
Anyways, I don't really make much connection with that and his retirement timing. Maybe the road ahead seemed pretty obvious to Kev and didn't really require much brooding over.
Posted by: AB | Monday, June 04, 2012 at 13:34
Just won't understand why people keep talking about IPL. Now doesn't the IPL start in April and England play tests in May? So how can KP play more games in the IPL?
ECB should have been more flexible and just like they allowed Strauss to get away from t/20 cricket should have allowed KP to retire from the onedayers and allowed him to play t/20 WC.
Posted by: greyblazer | Tuesday, June 05, 2012 at 15:47
well about this whole Kevin Pietersen's retirement thing I think that Kevin did the right thing on here, he considered he was old enough not to keep playing and I respect his decision even though I wanted to see him playing a couple of years more
Posted by: price per head reviews | Friday, February 01, 2013 at 00:20
T20 is catching up big time, it is right that people get bored watching the 50 overs format, it is long and with busy lives people prefer just checking the scorecard at the end of the match online. If you see the upcoming Cricket Fixtures It is full of t20 matches for the next month+
Posted by: Vibha | Tuesday, April 02, 2013 at 17:38