Tuesday 7 December 2010
I don't want to bang on about it, but just how important was Kevin Pietersen's last ball dismissal of Michael Clarke yesterday evening? Answers on a postcard please (or leave a comment on this website, if you want it to arrive by Christmas): 1) Vital - the supremely talented "Pup" could have got 200 today and saved his team from defeat 2) Irrelevant - his teammates are so inept, it wouldn't have mattered 3) I don't care - we beat the bastards 4) Look in the book. At the post-match ceremony, KP was duly awarded "Man of the Match". Previously regarded as highly talented but unloveable - a sort of cricketing Lady Gaga - KP now seems to be fully in touch with his sensitive side. Albeit in the euphoria of victory, he gave a very engaging post-match interview in which he described himself as a "bit of pie chucker" as a bowler and, more tellingly, acknowledged the progress England have made in the last 18 months since he "lost the captaincy" (his words) and the role he now enjoys playing within a winning team. As well as being a complete and utter triumph from start (oh, what a start!) to finish for the whole England team, this match could yet prove to be an epiphany for the complex talent that is Kevin Pietersen. His 227 was both imperious and mature - a masterpiece of batsmanship. The surprise wicket of Clarke was the icing on the cake. Today's post-match prediction is that KP will become an even better player for England in the next five years than he has been in the last five. I hope I am right because that would be a truly awesome prospect. [2019 update: I wasn't]
[Original comments]
Well, you said mercurial about KP, so who knows how long before he goes from hero to villain again? Anyway, an innings AND 71 runs. Ponting's reign must be almost over... Graham
Graham, that sounds both sceptic and rational. Punter must now wish he had quit with Warne and McGrath. Not sure why I used the word "mercurial" to describe a consistently brilliant knock by KP - that was complete rubbish and I have changed it to "imperious". Time will tell if he can become consistently imperious or remain frustratingly mercurial.
We will see... I am taunting my Australian friends with such childish numbers as: "you only sing when you're winning"... I'm loving every second of this (apart from all the late nights and early mornings). You are definitely in the right place, at the right time....
Didn't know Pietersen (spelling? :-) ) could bowl. A fluke? Were you pissed when you wrote this? Not that I have anything against being pissed - on the contrary. But , it was a bit soppy about Pietersen! Yes, definitely pissed but after such a great win - why not :-). He is so good one might even question his nationality (bit like Obama). BJ
Of course, why wouldn't I have been? Came from the heart though. Not sure where you are going with the nationality point though - you're beginning to sound like an Aussie!
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