Why KP is so damn good
Kevin Pietersen - England’s new wonderboy - has really made a name for himself. Doubted by the cynics and critics (which included me) about his ability to play the highest level of the game, due largely to the fact that his shot selection seemed irresponsible, he has successfully proved a lot of people wrong. His 158 in the final Ashes test match at The Oval was a match-drawing series-winning display of skill.
A criticism I have of him, though, and this relates particularly to the recent India and Pakistan tours, is that he doesn’t appear to have any problems getting played in, but he is not going on to make really big scores. The same is still largely true now - yes he has scored 3 centuries on the trot - and his 142 at Edgbaston made all of the other batsmen in the side look a bit silly and ultimately gave England the platform on which to grab the win. However, the day needs to come when he scores a test double century. That day will come but I believe it will be a defining moment as he moves from a routine of scoring centuries into a routine of scoring match-winning runs. There’s a big difference.
But none of that is to criticise him, crikey, he’s still very new to the Test arena, having played just 13 matches (and averaging over 50, I might add). I admit on a personal level, I don’t really like the guy. He seems too smug, a little too up himself - let’s face it, he’s the David Beckham of the cricket world, and for that reason alone, he’s going to encounter some stick. But it’s his natural confidence which lets him play the way he plays. He has faith in his own ability and the confidence that if he takes on the worlds best bowlers (which he has done - both Warne and Muralitharan have been on the receiving end of an agricultural KP slapping) more often that not he’ll get away with it. Whilst a lot of people have him pegged as a slogger, Duncan Fletcher assures them otherwise.
It’s that type of information that really heralds a great future for KP. I’m not interested in hearing “he’s the next Bradman/Richards” just as Freddie was “the next Botham”. That does a disservice to everyone named. Nope - KP is KP. He still lacks experience and I think he has a lot to learn yet. But his displays over the last 12 months have proven that he is learning - and that KP still has an awful lot left that we haven’t yet seen.
Tags: brilliant, England, kevin-pietersen, Test CricketRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Cricket
1 opinion for Why KP is so damn good
maneet singh artiya
Jul 28, 2007 at 8:46 am
he is damn good because there is no bowler to break his experience and there is no bowler to stop his shots and no team to stop him to make his centuries so he is powerhouse of cricket
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