KEVIN PIETERSEN EXCLUSIVE
England hero reveals truth about end of his reign
DEVASTATED Kevin Pietersen was dumped by English cricket chiefs in a five-minute telephone call as he was making an emotional visit to his family in Durban.
And the ECB followed it up with a blunt email . . . less than 48 hours before they were scheduled to meet Pietersen face-to-face to thrash out the problems that led to his exit.
I'm not finished as England skipper, insists Pietersen
I was only doing my duty for England, says Pietersen
I didn't quit over Vaughan's omission, says Pietersen
Win tickets to the first day of the Ashes series
Andrew Strauss: I'd go on a point of principle
Andrew Strauss needs a lot of help, says Richie Benaud
A stunned Pietersen was left distraught and bemused because he was given NO reason for the ending of his reign as England skipper.
And he has STILL not been told why both he and coach Peter Moores lost their jobs.
Breaking his silence after the most traumatic week of his career - and one of the most dramatic in the history of English cricket - Pietersen:
EXPLAINS how he was preparing to head back and discuss the future of the England team with ECB chiefs David Collier and Hugh Morris when he got the fateful call;
REVEALS Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison - said to be two of the men who stuck the knife into the captain - begged him to stay as skipper;
ADMITS he told his bosses he could not lead England while Peter Moores was still coach because their relationship had reached total breakdown;
SAYS he had already discussed names of new coaches with the same management people who turned on him;
SWEARS that he did not leak details of private discussions between himself and the board.
Pietersen has seen himself portrayed as the most hated man in cricket after claims that ECB chiefs - led by managing director Morris and chief executive Collier - had canvassed the opinion of the England squad and found that the likes of Flintoff and Harmison had turned against their leader.
But a clearly emotional Pietersen revealed how he had told Harmy and Freddie about his problems with Moores and they had pleaded with him to stick it out as skipper.
Pietersen said: "My relationship with Freddie was great and towards the end I sat down with him and I said: 'Mate, this is what is going on.'
"I explained about the meetings I'd had with the management over the situation with the coach.
"We had a good chat and Freddie's parting words were: 'You CANNOT leave as England captain.'
"I had a long chat with Harmy about what we were going to do going forward and how he would be seen as the best bowler in the world come the end of the Ashes. 'That is your goal,' I told him, 'because I think you are a superstar.'
"And then we were talking about other stuff and he said to me: 'Mate, I love you to bits and the last thing I want you to do is quit as captain.'
"I confided in them and in another two senior England players (Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood). And they all - 100 per cent, I promise you categorically - said to me: 'Do not leave, PLEASE, as England captain.'
"That's not to say they wanted Peter Moores sacked. All I can say is that I know who I have spoken to and I won't lie. What I have told you now is true. I have not let anything out to the media and I won't lie about stuff. This is the God's honest truth."
One of the accusations levelled at Pietersen is that his camp leaked details of the rift with Moores in a bid to force the ECB's hand. And that he should have hot-footed it back from his South African holiday as soon as the dispute became public.
But Pietersen says he was following a schedule that was actually laid down by Collier and Morris, who had asked him for a detailed strategy for the Ashes year of 2009.
And that schedule was due to end with a meeting last Thursday between Pietersen, Collier and Morris - a meeting which would have been their SIXTH in a month.
Pietersen, clearly devastated that Collier and Morris binned him by phone and email and did not have the decency to wait a day to deliver the news in person, recounts the sequence of events that led to English cricket again becoming the laughing stock of the world.
He said: "I had a meeting with Hugh Morris during the one- dayers in India, I had another meeting when I got back with (ECB chairman) Giles Clarke and I then had another meeting with Hugh and David Collier.
"Then I had another meeting with Hugh and Peter Moores and then I had another meeting with Collier . . . so I had loads of face- to-face meetings. The last words from David Collier and Hugh Morris during the last Test match in India were for me to do a strategy plan as to how I wanted to take the English cricket team forward.
"Where we want to go, how as players we were going to win the Ashes, how as players we were going to win in the West Indies, what kind of people I felt were important in all three forms of the game.
"A full strategy on how we wanted to work, how the structure should be. It was THEM who asked me to do that.
"They said we would meet again on January 8 in London. I said I would come straight from the airport so we could have it in the morning but they said come in the afternoon. On New Year's Eve, I sent the strategy email.
"On holiday, I wasn't myself - I was in a state. I was thinking, I was writing stuff down because I wanted to get this totally right for English cricket. After speaking to a couple of the senior players and some of the management, I really wanted to get this right for English cricket."
And what Pietersen thought was right for English cricket was the removal of Moores.
He said: "In my email, I said that I can't lead this team forward and take it to the West Indies if Peter Moores is coach. I did say that, yes."
The ECB then took that as a resignation - even though they sacked Moores.
But crucially, when they told Pietersen that he would be standing down, they did not tell him Moores was going as well.
He recalled: "I haven't had any reasons for why I was asked to stand down - and I still haven't.
"I was at my mum and dad's house and I was with my eldest brother Tony and his three lovely kids, who I hadn't seen for a year-and-a-half.
"And I was having a great time with them - and my phone rang. It was Hugh Morris. He said they had had an emergency board meeting and they had accepted my resignation.
"I said: 'Excuse me?!' They said: 'We've accepted your resignation.' I said on what basis has it been accepted? They had no answer. Next, I received an email from the ECB saying: 'Your resignation is of immediate effect'.
Angry
"But I wasn't told in the telephone conversation or the email that Peter Moores wasn't coach. I was told that 'your resignation' was accepted yet I hadn't been told he had been sacked or asked to resign.
"I thought that one of us had to go, sure. And I would have had no problem if they had decided it was me and Moores stayed.
"I only found out the following afternoon and I thought 'What is going on?'
"I still don't understand why it happened like that and I still haven't been given a reason. I was surprised because after that phone call I thought Moores was still in the job, with them taking my resignation because of the strategy I had drawn up and my conclusion. So when they got rid of Moores I did ask the question - but got absolutely nothing.
"I'm not angry - I'm just hurt, disappointed and upset that a childhood dream has been taken away from me."
What Pietersen cannot fathom is that if the ECB were willing to part with Moores - which was the only 'demand' he made in his strategy report - why did they get rid of their captain after just three Tests in charge.
"I honestly do not know," he said. "I was hand-in- hand with the ECB to do things the way they asked me to do them. I followed every one of their instructions.
"And together with David Collier and Hugh Morris, we had mentioned a few names as a possible new coach. Yes, we had spoken about names."
And Pietersen had clearly outlined why he thought Moores should go. The deposed skipper explained: "I don't feel the captain should be totally the main man but I do feel the captain and the coach should be really tight to drive the team forward.
Crushing
"I just wanted someone to be my ally who I trusted, who I knew was tactically aware.
"I didn't have that and those were my reasons for saying that I could not continue if Peter Moores was still the coach.
"I did not want to be the main man or the big show - I just wanted someone I knew I could work with for 24 hours a day to put out an England team to win."
Yet even though provisional plans for a new era without Moores but with Pietersen had been discussed, the ECB - led by Collier, Morris and Clarke - turned on the captain.
And that is what really hurts Pietersen. He said: "To lose a job of that importance to a person - and, more importantly, of that importance to a nation - over the phone is crushing. But it is done and it's time to move on."
This article has 55 comments
It's a terrible tragedy. This man is destined to be one of the greats - and as captain could have been even more so.
Those people saying he should be kicked out of the team are idiots with no knowledge of the game.
If they bothered to look at his record, they would see that he is already on course to overtake almost every world-clkass batsman's performances over the last 40 years during his career.
Just to give you an example - Pietersen has already scored 25 test centuries in 3.5 years. Gooch managed 32 in 18 (15 if you discount the years he was banned).
People don't seem to realise how phenomenal this player is.
By jegmeister. Posted February 3 2009 at 2:45 AM.
Every story has at least 3 sides; my side, your side, and the truth.
Fact: Pietersen is a gifted and inspirational cricket maverick of the same fibre as Ian Botham and Geoffrey Boycott
Fact: Greatness and dramatic change require strong, unique, passionate leaders willing to challenge the status quo and lead from the front
Fact: Change is hard and those in power always have the most to loose, status and financially
Opinion: To become world champions England Cricket have to divorce themselves from their obsession with mediocrity
Opinion: England Cricket scorned an opportunity "to rise from the ashes" - pun intended
Prediction (wishful): In 20 years from today Kevin Pietersen will have established a reputation as one of England's best Cricket Captains, instrumental in restoring this great cricketing nation to their former glory ......
By Barry. Posted January 17 2009 at 3:14 PM.
When I look at the state of English cricket and try to comapre with countries above us in Test playing status, Australia are "struggling" because there's no Hayden,McGrath,Warne,Gilchrist,Langer. Struggling so badly they're still no.1. South Africa, Graeme Smith..say no more. India - Now have the IPL bringing money in (tests certainly aren't well supported out there) , hints about corruption etc. India wielding its power as the money holders of international cricket is bad ....might be worse if the ECB were in charge. And then England. What can we honestly expect when this carry on occurs. Regardless of who was coach and captain, to allow this to happen proves what those no neck, wasters at the ECB have always been capable of NOTHING!! They couldn't organise it in a brewery, they wouldn't know their **** from their elbow if all their other limbs fell off. Why are we surprised. Gutless , spineless, chinless wonders who are going to see the Ashes and the England status around the cricket world sink lower than a snakes belly. Good luck.
By Andy B.. Posted January 16 2009 at 2:30 AM.
Horray!
Arrogant big head - glad he's gone!
By Kat Paskinos. Posted January 15 2009 at 1:01 PM.
It wouldn't be that hard for a tattoo artist to cover-up the crowns with a springbok.
Haydos just retired at 37, in 4 years KP will still be young enough to play for the Saffas.
By DG - Gold Coast. Posted January 14 2009 at 12:27 AM.
sorry but i think some people are talking a load of rubbish kp is england's best player and i think none of this is his fault i think he getting stick because the english public like to knock someone because once someone has done something they get stick. you have only got to read the interview above and the interview which is on sky sports website to see that he that he been really hurt by all of this and you know what kp is a not a bad bloke and sorry it's the ecb fault not kp fault. they have been really cruel and i think kp is the victim the only thing has done wrong is not to come earlier than he did but apart from that he has been the victim. also i would like to say that in the press it said that the players backstabbed kp but they didn't so it a load of rubbish what the some of the public and the newspapers r saying.
By hannah. Posted January 12 2009 at 7:45 PM.
England have once again shot themselves in the foot. Not the first time and it won't be the last. Our problem is th establishment and the power-hungry, out of touch relics that run sport in this country. I'm damn sure the Aussies wouldn't bat an eyelid if Ponting demanded the removal of the coach. Unfortunately in this country we think far too much about our sportsmen being "ambassadors" and "gentlemen" rather than being out and out winners. Ponting will never win awards for being a gent, but he is a WINNER, as is KP. The psyche of the country is all wrong. This country will never be on a par with Australia because we are too concerned about egos and people getting too big for their boots. The ego makes the man. Finally we had someone who was prepared to stand up and say "i'll carry the fight and i'll do whatever it takes to win." Finally, we had a winner in our midst. Alas, the fossils that "protect" our sporting ethics and institutions have seen fit to go backward and isolate the one world-class player we have in our team. Power to KP, let him live and die by his own sword.
By D Stott. Posted January 12 2009 at 7:39 PM.
Quite a joke acctually.How many comments are made -not on improving the national side-but the fact that KP was from another country.Reminds me when Capello was made coach. And look at the difference he's made!! Maybe there are no suitable
locally born captains.
By Dennis Hart. Posted January 12 2009 at 12:28 AM.
Can someone tell me how many of the English squad were born in England?
By John from Tasmania. Posted January 11 2009 at 11:54 PM.
For all thats wrong with KP those who question his motives should remember that 2 captains before him have resigned in the last five months under same management. So surely that speaks volumes of a coach who can't even hang on to the captains he has helped select
By silas. Posted January 11 2009 at 8:01 PM.
This is so funny, so typically KP, so typically ECB. I was telling my wife yesterday I think England are favourites for the Ashes, THEN they sack both their captain AND their coach. Not one or the other, oh no that's not English, Don't get rid of the one CAUSING the trouble, get rid of both, just so you can avoid the confrontation ... At least now you've got someone English captaining your side, I know that might seem strange but just MAYBE, someone from you OWN country might be a GOOD decision ?
By Aussie in Leeds. Posted January 11 2009 at 8:32 PM.
Well, I believe for all his detractors and haters KP should be hailed, not least for having done England a favour by exposing the phorney that is the ECB and the numpties administering it.
True England fans do Luv KP and viewing his interview I believe he was shafted. So let clean the ECB to get over this
By silas. Posted January 11 2009 at 7:55 PM.
KP's problem was,and always will be,his ego.It is
doubtful that even this episode will quell that.
However,he is a great talent, and it would be a pity
if he lost his place in the English side.Maybe his
presence,even as a player,would be too disruptive
for the side.As a South African I feel that he is no
loss to the Proteas,they have a wonderful team
spirit,and maybe this whole saga has been brewing
for quite some time and this was the final nail in his coffin.One point though,why are the English so against him coming from SA? Andrew Strauss was
also born in South Africa-he has an English mother-
and what do the English mean when they refer to
KP as a Saffer?
By Dennis Hart.. Posted January 11 2009 at 6:32 PM.
As an Indian who has been living in UK for ~ 15 years, I have been watching the whole saga from both angles.
The story is too unreal even for a Bollywood movie-a mediocre tribe allows a brash cocky foreigner to be 'one of them'; sings his praises when he wins for his new brothers the ultimate prize [ashes];lets emotion rule their head by making this Sir Lancelot their King Arthur; doubts him when he wants them to get even better; brothers turn into Brutuses; and in a chilling climax, the whole tribe commits mass suicide!
I always thought that Mohinder Amarnath's comment that the selectors are a bunch of fools was an eternal fact/statment on the way Indian cricket was run but hey, our old ''colonial companions'' are even better. They make Indian cricket run by BCCI look like a well run German company!
By Alex. Posted January 11 2009 at 6:29 PM.
iv bin waiting 4this long time ago, how on earth a south african can be england captain?
By xoli. Posted January 11 2009 at 6:57 PM.
Hi,
As I suggested three days ago, here, Moores walks the plank and KP's in the brig; KP lives to fight another day. Notice how few comments there are anti-Moores; his personality is too beige to give outsiders a clue as to his inadequacies but they were soon spotted by Collingwood, Vaughan and Pietersen (i.e. by people whose job it was to see that England performed well and who could see he was useless). Hilton, Cornwall.
By Hilton. Posted January 11 2009 at 5:49 PM.
Being from South Africa,I am no fan of K.P. However I am shocked at how the English have turned on him. I didnt see or hear anyone,including sports commentators slagging him off whilst he was scoring heavily and consistintly,often from a "two or three for nothing" position.They applauded him all the down the long room when he helped them get the Ashes back. No one complained he was not English enough then.Strauss himself is not English. K.P. may well be arrogant, but it can not be denied that he has given his all to the cause of English cricket to the point of tatooing himself and cultivating a phony accent and performing out of his skin whilst playing against S.A.English repudiation of this at least honest effort says more about Englands underwhelming results on the field Tnan K.P's suitability. English cricket performances often have an air of imminent capitulation about them.This underacheivement has less to do with the players on the field and rather more to do with administrators and fans. K.P.'S may well be guilty of arrogance and strategic naivete! However English fans and administators are guilty of something far more serious - sporting treachory and betrayal. Deeds like these will seep into the English sporting psyche pepetuating even more sorry results.English cricket is soft,and the reactions of the fans and administrators in this whole sorry saga is part of the cause of it.You should be ashamed of yourselves.
By Michele Hartslief. Posted January 11 2009 at 5:07 PM.
Kevin Pietersen's ego is always going to be his downfall. We are very happy he isnt playing for South Africa. As a person, he isnt a patch on the calibre of men in the South African team
By Lynne. Posted January 11 2009 at 4:33 PM.
What isn't clear to me is - who at the ECB leaked details of this internal maneouvering? If it wasn't KP then it was someone who was out to get him and who wanted to prove that he wasn't bigger than the England team or coach. Surely, if both KP and Moores have gone, then shouldn't the spineless wonder who stirred all this up go too?
That aside, it really does look as though the ECB have lost the plot and lost sight of the need to WIN cricket matches. If KP didn't "fit" in the ECB because has too much ego / self-belief / vision then doesn't this suggest that they would prefer someone more malleable, not someone who would be capable of steering England to victory? Not exactly a great reason for Strauss's appointment.
We can only hope that KP continues to be a superb cricketer and doesn't let all this rubbish affect his game, and that the team can unite to focus on beating opponents and not internal politics.
By Janet Sackman. Posted January 11 2009 at 4:01 PM.
How typical of the ECB. Their appalling record of supporting coaches and players who have issues is legendary. I know from personal experience with the ECB. Hardly surprising then that KP was 'balled'. The ECB should be renamed the "Eunuchs Cricket Board".
Tough call Kevin, but put it down to a lesson in life. You will now know how two-faced and lilly-livered those in charge of English cricket really are. Oh and by the way all you anti SA morons out there: Andrew John Strauss: born 2 March 1977 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Good luck Andrew. Trust no-one...
By Allan. Posted January 11 2009 at 3:25 PM.
Once again we are confronted by the perthetic and childish actions of our sportsmen and there administrators. What has been required for many years, a complete clearout of the MCC board, replaced with sportsmen of proven ability. As to the players? remember who is paying your wages. Develope a sence of pride, and who you are supposed to be representing. Get a shave and stand up straight. most of you are a disgrase to your passports. Appoint Boycott as disaplinarian, he would give them all a good kick up the whoopsy!
By Nigel. Posted January 11 2009 at 3:20 PM.
Another complete mess up by the ECB when will they learn. KP obvisiously felt that Moores inexperience and methods would not be enough to do the job for the ECB and said so, they must have agreed in the end, and fired Moores. They then needed a scapegoat to cover up the miss appointment of Moores. Kp was the man otherwise it would seem KP was running the show. The fact that KP said he could not lead England with Moores
on board was enough if their timing was right.
So they announce a premature statement about KP's resignation and latter the sacking of Moores.
This way they felt they could still retain KP's services as a batsman because KP had already stated his intention to serve under a new captain should Moores be retained. What a big mistake that was KP. To put your head on the chopping block with the ECB can never be a good idea however noble your intentions. One feels the ramifcations of this will run down the years until there is a clear out at the ECB.
By P Jordan. Posted January 11 2009 at 3:03 PM.
Arrogant man. I hope his wife gets knocked out of "Celebrity" Ice Skating tonight!
By Neal Robinson. Posted January 11 2009 at 1:11 PM.
I'm astounded people let him play for the ENGLISH side anyway, this isn't club cricket its cricket for the country. K-P Should stop moaning like a little girl and go play for his own country that he abandoned.
By james winters. Posted January 11 2009 at 12:46 PM.
Yay, england two wickets down before the Ashes :)
KP's young and hasn't learnt to fully respect other people (races cars at lights just so he won't be beaten, for example). But in terms of cricket, so what? He knows exactly what he wants from a world-beating cricket team and what it takes to get to the top of the tree. He probably would have been a "winning" captain, and in five years time, he would have learnt how to more fully respect people, and become less "arrogant". In the meantime he would have built a good track record, the english would have loved him then and the rest of the world would have respected him for it. Old cliched story, but that's probably how it would have ended up (see Graham Smith for similar).
Good luck to Strauss, he's probably going to do ok (and I hope so apart from a 5-0 drubbing during the ashes). But jeez, England cricket "probably" lost an opportunity to have a really aggressive, winning captain.
Great news for the rest of the world :)
By chris. Posted January 11 2009 at 12:31 PM.
It is time England grow a pair, England needs a strong Captain that can lead from the front.
South Africa and Australia are arguably two of the best teams, and their Captains don’t win any congeniality awards. They have to be tough and prepared to take their chances. England it is time to get the “Killer Instinct”. Cricket is no longer the gentleman’s game. KP keep your head down and win games
By Shaun Lewis. Posted January 11 2009 at 11:41 AM.
".....a childhood dream has been taken away from me.”
So even as a child Peterson was thinking of abandoning his native SA and playing for England.
By Joseph Turner. Posted January 11 2009 at 11:33 AM.
Pietersen has been handed a raw deal by the ECB. They've, typically, made a shambles of something that appears simple to resolve. They also have no one but themselves to blame in appointing Pietersen in the first place. However Pietersen is no leader of men - could you imagine standing behind him in a you-or-me situation that may mean Pietersen coming out of it negatively? He'd move straight out of the way and make you take the hit. Cricket captains have to be able to motivate, inspire and, above all, engender a work ethic between many disparate characters and egos. It's no coincidence that both Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff both failed during their stints in the role. The more successful captains (Clive Lloyd being the prime example) are the guys who manage the egos and talents of their troops for the greater good of the team. Look at how Pietersen verbally laid into South Africa as a nation once he knew his English future was safe - complete and utter disregard for others at the expense of securing himself.
Pietersen is now back in the ranks and can go out and bat as well as he can. Hopefully, for the betterment of the team, but I suspect he'll only be looking toward the lucrative IPL contract that will follow now. If he were to walk away from England (like he did South Africa), I wouldn't shed any tears. We have the right man in charge in Strauss and now, we just have to hope that the ECB get the processes in place for selecting the right coach.
By Benn Kempster. Posted January 11 2009 at 11:30 AM.
Cant belive the stick KP is getting here.We have all had management we cant get on with at work.He was made captain to lead the side and wanted the best for the side.I wish we had more players with KPs so called ego we would be a far more clincail side.I belive Kp will still lead the side by example the crease and all of u will be off your seats in appreciation of his talent again.
By Ben Evison. Posted January 11 2009 at 10:53 AM.
Cant belive the stick KP is getting here.We have all had management we cant get on with at work.He was made captain to lead the side and wanted the best for the side.I wish we had more players with KPs so called ego we would be a far more clincail side.I belive Kp will still lead the side by example the crease and all of u will be off your seats in appreciation of his talent again.
By Ben Evison. Posted January 11 2009 at 10:53 AM.
serves u right!!
By baldeagle. Posted January 11 2009 at 10:29 AM.
Peter Moores being sacked has nothing to do with KP - the ECB did the sacking and then put the knife into KP. When are people going to realize that the ECB is full of cigar smoking spineless old men. KP is one of the best things to happen to English cricket and now will do the talking on the pitch. Unlike the ECB he has a SPINE...... Thanks to the ECB the rest of the cricketing world is having a very big laugh...... To that i say THANKS............
By David Hatton. Posted January 11 2009 at 10:17 AM.
I can't believe I'm reading all these posts slagging KP off! The fact he was correct on Peter Moores assesment as an 'average' coach, hurts but it's the truth, KP does not want average, he wants world beaters like him. KP wanted 11 arrogant cricketers just like Australia and look what they achieved!!
Stop your anti KP, South African jibes, wake up and smell the coffee! I bet you all wearnt slagging KP's 150 to win the Ashes!!!
By M Rouse. Posted January 11 2009 at 10:20 AM.
K.P.played for us at Cannock Cricket Club when he first came overfrom S.A.you wont find a photo of him on our walls speaks volume of this big head self centered arrogant man.Dont take him to West Indies let him go and play I.P.L.(Mussa)
By paul murray. Posted January 11 2009 at 10:13 AM.
KP why didn't you stay, and play in SA
By Keith. Posted January 11 2009 at 10:08 AM.
If we forgot about sport making money and returned to pure sport then we could have countries represented by people born in them. This is not racist as some earlier comments have been but questions the modern dishonesty of countries buying athletes to represent them.
By charlie. Posted January 11 2009 at 9:53 AM.
Not sure I'd want to take on the job as coach if I could get sacked without even doing anything wrong and just because the team 'superstar' wants it. Clearly Moores was unpopular but he didn't even get the chance to put his side of things. Pietersen was just the wrong choice to begin with.
By David. Posted January 11 2009 at 9:52 AM.
KP-tell them all where to get stuffed, go and play IPL, tell Enlgish cricket where to go, cricket has lost an inspirational player!
By Tori. Posted January 11 2009 at 9:35 AM.
Why cant KP shut up and bugger off to the IPL .
His not wanted in world cricket
By Charlotte. Posted January 11 2009 at 9:18 AM.
well done the e.c.b.! now go the whole hog and drop him completeley. that way he can be replaced by an englishman! he only nailed his colours to our flag because s.a would'nt have put up with his show pony attitude!!
By keith evans. Posted January 11 2009 at 9:13 AM.
KP obviously feels ok about deliberately setting out to destroy another man's career, but feels hurt when he simply loses status. He will go to the Windies, whilst Moores will go to the Job Shop! Is there any evidence to suggest Moores attempted to get him sacked? If there is he (Moores) will lose any sympathy that exists for him at present. But, I suspect he plotted not at all, which leaves KP as the one and only hatchet man, and I know of no one who likes those!!
By Dave, Totnes. Posted January 11 2009 at 6:43 AM.
KwaZulu-Natal Cricket, South African Cricket, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club..... and now England..... sure KP, nothing that you did. Of course everyone else was in the wrong. Again.
By Robberroo South Africa. Posted January 11 2009 at 6:32 AM.
Staggering!! how this arrogant so and so thinks it will be ok to step back into the side as though nothing has happened is beyond me! He says he resigned in order to restore 'unity' in the dressing room - his actions alone have destroyed the unity.
Hes captain for five minutes and starts getting anal!.
I'd drop him like a hot brick - leave him at home to stew and if thats to Englands detriment then so be it - and taking an exclusive just shows where his head is!.
Great at the bat - crap human being!
Sorry!!
By Chuckie. Posted January 11 2009 at 6:20 AM.
as usual the so called idiots who run english sport i.e cricket.football etc, do not know what they are doing just because a player does not come from the right background it makes no difference how good you are as a player you will never be accepted.look at geoff boycott one of the greatest batsmen in the world reduced to a role as commentator and coach ing in the outposts of india does it not seem strange that there players are very good batsmen etc,when the fans going to get there say as to who runs our national sports and put some of these old fuddys and class elitistes out to grass
By keith lloyd. Posted January 11 2009 at 5:50 AM.
Yet more guff from Pietersen whilst Moores continues to keep a dignified silence.
Of course Flintoff and Harmison would want to keep him as captain but under Moores as coach. When he made it a case of either/or, it was obvious who they (along with most of the rest of the side) would back.
Moores was steadily improving the team from Fletcher's disastrous ashes and world cup campaigns. Stunning results weren't going to happen overnight, we just don't have the players, but a large majority of the side could see that we were heading in the right direction.
That is why they backed him over Pietersen and the ECB should have backed him too.
By Jethro Megano. Posted January 11 2009 at 5:47 AM.
We all know he is just a yob! I will tell the truth and then says he wouldnot mind if it was him or Moores.Yea right.Take Graeme Smith's place while he is injured.
By James Walker. Posted January 11 2009 at 4:08 AM.
The current ECb board is full of confused guys . If they think they have solved anything , let's watch. Peter need to view this as a blessing in disgiuse . He was going to lose form as england captain , look at history. Strauss has been knifed without knowing . Ecb cannot run cricket in England . Compare them to Zimbabwe cricket board . It's all political
Petersen needs to realize that he will always be regarded as foreigner at ecb . Learn the truth mate welcome to our world mate , you will never be part of them if you were born outside no matter how much you contribute to the nation . Tough lesson kevin
By Kelvin mupungu. Posted January 11 2009 at 4:11 AM.
English Cricket in an utter shambles as usual....bumbling administration by the ECB, poor team cohesion, and the list goes on and on...i can`t understand why Moores was sacked bit of a mystery that - but the events that have unfolded have proved beyond doubt that the team is in complete disarray, and there is no unity among them at all, and i have no doubt that the Aussies feel that they already have won the Ashes psychological battle against England ! England should forefit the Ashes series until the ECB can get its house in order and the team its act together !
By Vik. Posted January 11 2009 at 4:33 AM.
KP is the best man for the job, sounds like a classic breakdown in communication...sure the Aussies must be loving it! KP being removed in this strange way has totally undermined his role in the team. It's no way to treat one of our greatest players! The ECB should re-instate him, for the good of English cricket!
By Ethan Hurlington. Posted January 11 2009 at 3:40 AM.
Being South African, I can quite happily say I am glad he doesn't play for us now. I don't think there is a single South African who would want him anywhere near our team because he is such a self centred arrogant nimrod and he would be a disruptive and negative force on the team. My message to the ECB would be; He might be one of the world’s best batsmen but do your selves a favour. Don't let him play for England again. Cricket is a team sport. He's in it for the glory. You'll be better off in the long run.
By Stephen. Posted January 11 2009 at 3:52 AM.
Oh, what a sob story. Just wiping the tears away as i read this. If you havent seen your famiy for 1 and half years, perhaps paying for them to visit may help! KP should keep his mouth shut and bat. He can boost his ego by becoming England's highest run scorer and century maker which is very likely.
By Johan, Leeds. Posted January 11 2009 at 2:35 AM.
What seems to be Pietersen's problem, being a South African, is the English nuances which could be so illusive when ultimata are delivered. It's all about communication!
By Cecil Archer. Posted January 11 2009 at 2:47 AM.
Always quick to go to press and look at his history. He has always caused problems. Great player, lousy person. Says he doesnt lie then claims they "took away his childhood dream"??? Sorry but why was his childhood dream to captain England, when he was born and bred South African. Not saying that means he cant play and captain England, but I somehow can believe it was his childhood dream.
The only one who has been poorly treated is Peter Moores. Still cant understand why he was sacked
By Bradley Colmans. Posted January 11 2009 at 2:15 AM.
I like KP.
By Steve Jacks. Posted January 11 2009 at 12:19 AM.
Even now he does not realise what has happened?
The man is close to being a god when batting but his awareness of the world beyond his personal space is close to zero.
Please, please do not attend to your "unfinished business".
By J Cuthbert. Posted January 10 2009 at 11:28 PM.