Make Time For Sports.
kevin pietersen
Kevin Pietersen sets in the West, rises in the East
Kevin Pietersen is wanted.
Kevin Pietersen is not wanted.
Rejected by the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the South African born cricketer makes his way to India to turn out for the Sun Risers Hyderabad despite making his highest ever first-class score, a classy triple ton for Surrey.
The 34-year-old is piqued indeed.
He cannot bridge the ‘trust deficit’ with the new director of cricket Andrew Strauss.
Has he done all that’s required? Has he been punished enough for all his previous ‘misdemeanours‘. The English public rooting for him certainly believe so.
Is he worse than a convicted spot-fixer? Surely not.
That begets the question, “What is trust?”
Trust , my friend, is personal. And this decision , my cricketing friends, is personal.
English: England cricket Captain Kevin Pietersen at The Oval (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Kevin Pietersen: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Kevin Pietersen believes that writing a tell-it-all (or blame-them-all) autobiography is curative.
Kevin Pietersen after training at Adelaide Oval (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What he said:
“And it was papering over a lot of cracks, and so for me it’s been very therapeutic to get it out there.”
Kevin Pietersen chatting with Phil Walker of All Out Cricket reveals that disclosing his side of the story in his memoirs “KP: The Autobiography” was necessary for his peace of mind.
Pietersen said:
“I’ve needed to do this. I’ve needed to tell the world. There have been too many character assassinations and continual leaks to certain journalists about me, and things that I’ve supposedly done, which are absolute garbage. So I’ve needed to be honest, I’ve needed to be open. With a book like this, with all the allegations in it, you don’t do it faint-heartedly, you don’t do it without any evidence, and so I took a lot of time going through this, and David Walsh and I are really proud of what we produced.”
On the effect his revelations have had on the English game’s reputation:
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m heartbroken, mate. But you know what? Sometimes, in order for things to happen, in order for things to change, you sometimes have to hit rock bottom. I’m incredibly proud that I’ve been able to unearth some of the stuff I’ve unearthed because it was a horrible place for some players, and a lot of players feel aggrieved with a lot of the stuff that they’ve had to put up with. And it was papering over a lot of cracks, and so for me it’s been very therapeutic to get it out there. And I hope that even if I don’t ever play for England again that English cricket will look at this, they’ll have a look at this, and they’ll start sorting things out.”
English: Scarecrow Number 3, a cricketer with the face of Kevin Pietersen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What Pietersen really meant:
“It’s just what the doctor ordered. Dr. Pietersen.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I really flowered under (Andy) Flower.”
Kevin Pietersen: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Kevin Pietersen is utterly professional.
What he said:
“The IPL is professionalism taken to its logical extreme. All the bullshit and hypocrisy have been turned off.”
Kevin Pietersen has extremely positive things to say about Indian cricketer, Rahul Dravid, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) in his autobiography, ‘KP: The Autobiography’.
Pietersen writes:
“Rahul was a great and heroic Indian batsman in his day. He is also a genius at dealing with spin bowlers. Our conversations and emails were a private masterclass from a genuine guru.
Rahul improved my cricket and helped me develop the way I think about the game. His generosity will stay with me always.”
Rahul Dravid, the former captain of the Indian cricket team also represents Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Dravid emailed him thus:
“KP, you are a really good player, you need to watch the ball and trust yourself… Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t play spin, I have seen you and you can!”
KP says:
“My playing of spin has gone up a number of levels since I’ve spent time in the IPL, and in particular, since I’ve spoken to Rahul Dravid…In England, batsmen get taught to play with the spin against spin bowlers. In India, the best players of spin get taught to play against it.”
On the IPL:
“The IPL is the future… I could talk about money and the IPL all day to you, but for the friendships alone I would play for free.
I’ve built all my relationships with foreign cricketers while in the IPL. That doesn’t help in the England dressing room… there are not many of those friendships.
There is a culture in India that appreciates if you double down and go for the big shot. It’s a game of cricket, not economics. Not life or death. Take a risk. IPL crowds don’t want to see you batting out singles as you pick and choose which balls to hit. Life is too short.”
What Pietersen really meant:
“All the bullshit and hypocrisy is turned off. Including mine. Or is that especially mine?”
What he definitely didn’t:
“The IPL players, coaches and specially the co-owners are professional in all respects, even the betting. Oye Sressanth, tell them.”
Geoffrey Boycott: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Geoffrey Boycott bats for Kevin Pietersen with both eyes wide open.
What he said:
“But all diamonds are flawed. They are not perfect and you have to learn to love and nurture a diamond.”
Geoffrey Boycott , in Kevin Pietersen’s defense, likens the South African born cricketer to a solitaire.
He said:
“I am not blindly sticking up for Kevin. But most very talented sportsmen are like diamonds. They sparkle and glitter and light up the game. They catch the eye and enchant the public. But all diamonds are flawed. They are not perfect and you have to learn to love and nurture a diamond. They have not done that with Kevin.”
The Yorkshire man is disgusted with the way the English Cricket Board sought to discredit Pietersen’s outbursts about the bullying culture within the English team by leaking a confidential document outlining his indiscretions to the media.
Kevin Pietersen after training at Adelaide Oval (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Boycott writes:
“Kevin is a sinner but he has been sinned against by the ECB. There are rights and wrongs on both sides and whatever Pietersen’s faults, the ECB is not blameless.
For me, it reached its lowest point on Tuesday when a ‘strictly confidential’ ECB document was leaked to the media. The points it contained were pathetic and it was a crass idea to put together such a report to try to trash Kevin. It stinks.”
He adds:
“Yes Kevin was awkward, difficult, different and at times his own worst enemy. But his record and his performances do not deserve a character assassination. The ECB should be dignified about it all and not try to belittle him.
I hope the ECB is investigating how one of its confidential documents reached the public domain. If it discovers someone within the ECB leaked it then they should get the sack. If nobody is sacked then we can only assume that the ECB was happy or even complicit with the document being leaked in order to denigrate Kevin.
Some of the points contained in this document are so trivial it beggars belief. He had rows with the captain and coach about the way the team were performing, that sort of thing has gone on forever. It is OK if it happens within the confines of the dressing room. You are supposed to have open discussion in the dressing room and get things off your chest. In fact, the way we played in Australia, I would have said some far worse things to my team-mates if I was still playing.
Another claim is he took some younger players out for a drink in Adelaide. Give me a break – drinking has always gone on and that should not be dignified with a reply. It was only last year after a drinking session we had England players peeing on the Oval pitch after an Ashes win and the ECB or Andy Flower did nothing about it. We had Andrew Flintoff full of drink and trying to ride a pedalo in the West Indies but it did not finish his career. We had Joe Root drinking in the early hours of the morning when he was attacked by David Warner during the Champions Trophy last year. On the field James Anderson uses personal abuse every Test and nothing has been done about it.
The report also claims Kevin looked at his watch and out the window during team meetings. He was probably bored to death. I am sorry but the ECB is making itself look like a laughing stock.”
Boycott claims that he is no stranger to blackballing tactics elaborating thus:
“The Yorkshire committee tried to do the same thing to me when they had an ‘in-depth investigation’ into why we were not winning championships. They tried to blame me for everything. They even got a tea lady at Warwickshire to write a letter of complaint saying I had taken the crusts off my sandwiches which had upset her.”
Geoffrey Boycott, however, does not mince words when he says that he found the ace bat sometimes displaying an insouciant nonchalance and lack of commitment to the national side.
He said:
“This is not a one-eyed support for Kevin from me but a defence of fair play. There is no excuse for some of his stupid shots when England were in trouble. He gave the impression, rightly or wrongly, that he could not care less. There was also no excuse for KP constantly agitating to play a full IPL season to earn his $2 million for eight weeks’ work. England compromised and allowed him half that but told him he had to be back for the first Test of the summer. England were right on that. He had been given an opportunity to play for England and he was contracted to the ECB on good money. Do not forget, his IPL deals only came about because he had been given the chance to showcase his talents by England.
Kevin wanted the penny and the bun. He did not want to give up anything.”
What he really meant:
“Diamonds are forever. But you have to know how to wear them and camouflage the flaws.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“You do know Pietersen’s originally South African? See, how I’m being clever here with the metaphor.”
Kevin Pietersen: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Kevin Pietersen is no paperhanger.
What he said:
“Success papers over a lot of cracks.”
Kevin Pietersen does not regret his utterances about the culture of bullying within the squad despite the intimidation coinciding with English cricket’s most triumphant periods.
What he really meant:
“Success is rarely dissected. It’s a question of whether you want to get on with the party or not. Failure is lonely and a time for introspection. Besides, critics can hardly argue with favorable outcomes less they be termed ‘sour grapes’.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I just wish I had published my biography at the apogee of my career. It would have been a real hoot.”
Graeme Swann: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Swann bowling against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in the second Test. Scorecard. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Graeme Swann hopes to bury Kevin Pietersen and his autobiography 20,000 leagues under the sea.
What he said:
“I expected it to be the biggest work of fiction since Jules Verne and that seems to have happened.”
Graeme Swann has little time for Kevin Pietersen and his rantings. The former England off-spinner and KP’s ex-teammate dismissed his allegations of being a bully during his tenure with the squad.
“The one thing will say. I immediately realised it was codswallop when I read the character assassination of Matt Prior. Tragically I don’t think Kev realises the one person who fought tooth and nail to keep him in the side is the one person he is now assassinating: Matt Prior.
Kevin has been quite clever because the guys still playing he has left alone and he hopes to get back in again one day. He has picked on people who he thinks can’t answer back.”
He added:
“If that was the case a lot of people would have flagged it up before. We had a magnificent team ethos and team spirit until Mitchell Johnson took his blindfold off and then it all fell apart.
It was strange to watch my team-mates this summer, all those people I’d bullied all those years. I’d have loved to have been out there giving them Chinese burns.”
Paul Downton said:
“What I do know is there’s been no formal or informal complaint about bullying.”
Matt Prior tweeted:
After this morning I'm looking forward to reading the full kp book. Might bully my kids into getting it for me for Xmas!!
—
Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) October 06, 2014
1/2 Obvs sad to see the accusations against me this am and I WILL have my right of reply! However today is not the day and Twitter is not..
—
Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) October 06, 2014
2/2 ...the place for it! Now back to my Achilles rehab and learning to walk again! have a great day everyone
—
Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) October 06, 2014
What Swann really meant:
“No one really expected KP’s book to be complimentary of his teammates or the then-administration. Of course, I’m surprised by the allegations. But what did I lose out on? Nothing! So I’ll keep mum and say nothing about being a bit of a bully on the field. An atmosphere of fear? Ha! Not something to complain about when I’m the one held in awe.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I’m going to be attending a seminar by Mitchell Johnson ‘Bullying and harassment on the cricket field: How to confront and overcome it’.”
Kevin Pietersen: What he said, really meant and definitely didn’t
Kevin Pietersen promises to shoot from the hip in his autobiography, ‘KP: The Autobiography‘.
What he said:
Kevin Pietersen was the scapegoat for the Ashes debacle Down Under. Is that still news?
It is when you are promoting your version of events in your ghost-written biography. Hagiography, perhaps?
Pietersen publicized his to-be-released book with a series of one-on-one interviews beginning with the Daily Telegraph.
What he really meant:
“I was not the only non-performer on the Ashes tour. But I was the one with a history of run-ins with the authorities in the past. It was a convenient excuse for them and they went to town with it.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Am I the GOAT or what?”
Graeme Swann: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
Graeme Swann Reiterates That Skippers Are To The Manner Born
What he said (via Daily Mail):
"It’s an honest book and anyone reading it will realize that the one person getting assassinated in it is myself.”
Graeme Swann makes no apologies for his remarks concerning Kevin Pietersen’s leadership in his autobiography,The Breaks Are Off.
Speaking to Paul Newman, Swann said:
I completely stand by what I said that Kev is not a natural leader of men. I only know two people from my time who I’d put in that category. One is Stephen Fleming and the other is Andrew Strauss. It’s that rare.
You can have good captains but to be an absolute natural leader, like a Mike Brearley, is a rarity. I certainly don’t consider myself one when I’ve captained and I don’t think Alastair Cook is. He’s a good captain but it just doesn’t come as naturally to him. Straussy was born to be England captain. Fleming was born to be a captain. I just don’t think people took what I wrote in context.
Defending his frankness, Swann said:
What it boils down to is that it can be OK to do a book but make sure you don’t say anything – and that’s not me. I would never forgive myself if I went through my career kowtowing to people and being a yes man. And I would never have forgiven myself if I’d pulled my punches. It’s an honest book and anyone reading it will realise that the one person getting assassinated in it is myself.
I rip myself to pieces because that’s how I feel about my career before it took off. I look back in embarrassment at a lot of it and I want that to come across. I don’t want to pretend I’ve always been in the right and everyone else has been wrong. I fully realise you’re responsible for everything in your life and I live by that.
Swann adds:
“When I wrote it I didn’t think it was controversial in the slightest because I didn’t say anything in the book that I wouldn’t say in an interview. Some people who applaud me for being honest suddenly turned on me.”
What he really meant:
“Of course, I’m assuming my readers are perspicacious.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“My royalties are killing me.”
Kevin Pietersen: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
Kevin Pietersen Says ‘No Bio’ on Graeme Swann’s Cricketing Career
What he said:
“I still do not agree to anyone writing a book in the middle of his career.”
English cricketer Kevin Pietersen makes his moments count.
After guiding Graeme Swann’s T20 side to its only victory on Indian soil in the return series, the South-African born player communicated his views about the off-spinners autobiography.
Swann criticised Pietersen’s leadership in his book, saying he should never have skippered the English side.
What he really meant:
“The chapter named Kevin Pietersen is not yet closed.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Maybe, cricketers should take a cue from the Don (Bradman) and pen one right at the outset.”
Number of readers subscribed
Read it on Apple News
Read it on Apple News
Stat Counter
Sports, Health and Exercise
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
Make Time For Sports. 