Bangladesh v England, 1st test, Chittagong, Mar 12-16

How long can we keep making excuses for him? We've been saying, "oh he'll be fine...just going through a rough trot, he's still our best player" etc for a year now.

Fact is, he needs runs.

Ummmm... Hasn't he just had a rough trot of three Tests? Bit hysterical don't you think? Unless you really expected him to play well through his injured period?

ODIs?

Of course he needs runs, he's a batsman. And yes, he's been short of them recently. To that extent, it's a concern, without doubt.

The difference is that he hasn't become a rubbish player overnight, and so patience is the order of the day.

He constantly gets out to shit shots, rather than good balls, which suggests his mind isn't on the job.

Meh, we'll see.

Yes, because it's really common that players get out to truly fantastic shots isn't it?

Frankly, I really DGAF about KP's form at the present time.
His mind most probably is elsewhere, and there are enough batsmen in the side to see England through to win the series ... as long as the bowlers perform.

I'd be more concerned if by close season, he hasn't found his rich seam again - ahead of the "you know what" Down Under ... that's where he'll be needed .... but he's a pro, he's class, and by then all will be well.

KP got out to sh!t shots when he was plundering runs for fun. Got to take the rough with the smooth.

Yeah, it's not as if he's been gotten out through lack of technical ability - it's been more twattism, he's a bit out of nick and he's still not looking after his wicket. The man is proven class though and his dismissals - as Lever says - are no different before. Just that he's not getting as many before he disappoints us all.

Brass Monkey wrote:Yeah, it's not as if he's been gotten out through lack of technical ability

Although the frequency of left-arm spin dismissals is peculiar to say the least. But it can't be an ability thing, because he's getting out to rubbish ones. Maybe psychological?

He's averaged just shy of 30 in his last 8 tests. Pretty poor, but certainly not so bad that we have to drop him, considering we all know what he is capable of.

Gotta agree with Shoey, Merls, Brass Monkey and sort of Lever


Henry, you really are pushing for a gorgeous woof for Pietersen and I can see right through it.

Shoeshine wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:Yeah, it's not as if he's been gotten out through lack of technical ability

Although the frequency of left-arm spin dismissals is peculiar to say the least. But it can't be an ability thing, because he's getting out to rubbish ones. Maybe psychological?

Yeah, it's his weakness ever since Dwayne Leverock. It sort of makes sense, from a technical POV - ball angling into him, maybe a nibble away, attacking strokes, bat away from pad. No doubt he could block them off all day if he wished - it's just his expansive nature.

Pietersen should take a leaf out of Steve Waugh's book and take a tactical stance on certain shots.

Brass Monkey wrote:

Shoeshine wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:Yeah, it's not as if he's been gotten out through lack of technical ability

Although the frequency of left-arm spin dismissals is peculiar to say the least. But it can't be an ability thing, because he's getting out to rubbish ones. Maybe psychological?

Yeah, it's his weakness ever since Dwayne Leverock. It sort of makes sense, from a technical POV - ball angling into him, maybe a nibble away, attacking strokes, bat away from pad. No doubt he could block them off all day if he wished - it's just his expansive nature.

Well, perhaps. Thing is, he's very often out lbw to balls he's defending - he just seems to miss them. It's bizarre, like how Thorpe suddenly had a complete nightmare against Graeme Smith all those years ago for no apparent reason.

I always thought being a tall guy would give Pietersen an advantage over shorter batsmen.