KP’s Progress

There are thirty-three days left until the Ashes begins and one of the main topics of the build-up conservation has been Kevin Pietersen. England’s star batsman who, of late, has been somewhat out of form. Beginning back in 2009, with an Achilles injury which took longer to heal than anticipated, KP has struggled for runs. He last scored a century back in May 2009. Aside from this, however, there have also been questions over his mental attitude. A new baby, the shock of losing the captaincy and being a whiteness to the implementation of the type of coaching structure he desperately wanted as captain, are all potential reasons for the loss of the ‘KP strut’. The ex-Australian coach, John Buchanan, has most recently branded KP an “individualist” and “fragmentary” figure within the England team. While Strauss has been quick to come out in support of his star batsman, the ‘KP question’ must surely be a concern for the England management. There are, after all, only thirty-three days to go.

While CricketChicks have never been KP’s biggest fans, they were impressed by his decision to play in South Africa (for the Kwazulu Natal Dolphins) in a bid to regain some form. They were less impressed, however, with scores of just 36 and 0. Not only was this far from ideal preparation, but it did nothing to put the niggling doubts to bed. It seems then, that the pre-Ashes warm-up games will be crucial for both KP and the England management as they contemplate their starting eleven come November 25th. With the opening positions most likely already cemented (Cook’s century at the Oval, against Pakistan, being enough to secure him a start at least), as well as numbers three and five (most likely Trott and Collingwood), the question marks hang over positions four and six. For these two places, there remains three batsman - Bell, Morgan and Pietersen. While a little while ago the thought of leaving out KP would have been unthinkable, it now doesn’t seem that ludicrous. As while an in form KP is undoubtedly one of the best in the world (a batsman who can take a game away from the opposition), the KP of late is of little use to anyone.