The Kevin Pietersen factor

Posted 5 years ago, at the end of January by Will

A lot has been written about Kevin Pietersen over here (UK) in the past few days, so I thought I’d do my own summary of events and of the man himself.

Pietersen left South Africa 4 years ago, with the claim that South Africa’s quota system prevented him from getting a game (and more specifically, he felt, prevented his chances of playing international cricket). He qualified to play for England last September, thanks to his English Mother, and has terrorised County bowling attacks for the last 2 or 3 seasons (5512 @ 54.03). So that’s his background.

The South Africans have, unsuprisingly, not really taken to him very politely; this is, after all, the country of his birth and many South Africans, rightly so, resent him for jumping ship. Smith has said: “He ran out when things got tough. If he didn’t want to be here then we don’t want him here.”

In short, this is a cricketer with immense talent and awesome power – perhaps the Saffers are jealous (much as the English were when Andrew Symonds decided to play for Australia instead of England). On top of all this, he just happens to be the most confident and arrogant cricketer around at the moment – a trait which forced his moving to Hampshire after upsetting his first county Northamptonshire Nottinghamshire. You have to hear him to beleive him! Lots of Aussies regard Flintoff as an arrogant sod – rightly or wrongly (wrongly) – but this guy wrote the script on arrogance, and does himself no favours whatsoever. Arrogance is all very well if it’s justified, but he’s setting a dangerous precedant by making these comments without having established himself as an England player

Yesterday, in a simplistic solution to national identity, he said he’d do a Gough and have the 3 lions tatooed on his arm:

“That’s not a Christmas present,” Pietersen said, “that’s there for life. Anyone who abuses me, tells me I’m not English…” He slaps his shoulder. “I would do it now, but tattoos scab over and then I wouldn’t be able to dive.”

“I know I can expect that sort of stick during the whole series,” Pietersen said yesterday. “It was only stares and swearwords really, nothing serious. I just laugh about it because they can hardly speak proper English.”

Not the best thing to say to calm down the situation! England has had a number of South African and Zimbabwe players come and play for England – many of them bristling with ability, not least G Hick (remember him? Many who saw him play regarded him as the most talented player they’d ever seen….). And now they have another. All this bravado and bullish talk will be very quickly forgotten if he doesn’t perform – but, dare I say it, he’s already threatening having just hit a brutal/brilliant 97 against South Africa ‘A’ 2 days ago. Rod Marsh, his coach at the Academy, can perhaps conclude this piece better than I:

Rod Marsh, Pietersen’s coach at the National Academy, is adamant that his country of origin played no part in his omission from the South Africa tour, adding that England will benefit from his desire to play at the highest level. “English cricket’s spirit will be strengthened by him, not diluted,” said Marsh. “He has made an enormous sacrifice of leaving his own country. Maybe English cricket’s spirit has been diluted in the past by those English players who have not wanted it enough.”

2408 Comments

  1. cortzo

    OMFG! this is seriosuly the fittest cutest, most adorable bloke around! He is sooo sweet! Does anyone know if jessica’s up the duff yet? Awww baby kp’s! his brother brian’s got a sexy voice…but his voice is gorgeous!:P *drool* Possitive confident and cocky…..ah love it man! He still aint replied to my email…*sob* so sad! And he’sone a a mateys on myspace woo0ooo! Go Kevin! Fuckin sexi beast!

  2. steven hughes

    kp is alsom
    its exiting watching im play
    he alway makes me wondor how he hit a reveise sweep 4 6
    hes my idol

    from number 1 fan

  3. anum

    everyone has said so much about kev iwould just say:’his technique rocks.”

  4. jasper

    hey pietersen is da hottest cricketer ever, i love da hair style da blond streak
    go pietersen
    kp da best u r da gun
    jasper

  5. Thank God for a guy like KP that isnt afraid of telling it as it is. I’m so glad he told the world about the quota system in south africa and how it’s ruining sport in this country. It’s happening in all our sport and it’s because of discrimination in our sport that south africa lost a class player in Pietersen. Fact is that Pietersen is not the only one,..there’s lots more but atleast Kp’s got the courage the speak out. Brilliant Kevin,..you’re a superstar cricketer and also a respectable human being!! And another thing,…Greame Smith IS nothing worth mentioning about!!

  6. Maxton

    hey! kevin pieterson is the best out there i would love 2 meet him. whatz so cool about him is he’s from south africa 2 and lives in england so do i .. it’s wicked i would love 2 meet you kevin pieterson your amazin and i what to be just like you when i grow up. i want to a cricket player. you enspiyer me ….YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!

  7. Myths

    Kevin pietersen ma fav cricket player one hot fellow…..sexy fellow…..was in london n now in india……..KP plzzz come to the Indian team yar…think he is the only good player in the england team….k thats it to say for now KP u Rox
    Lov ya lot
    Myths (L)

  8. dan

    england suck at sport life and general good looks
    u need a south african to win for u
    australia is the best cricket team in the world
    sucked in


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