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“I don’t let spinners bowl to me” – Pietersen, 2006
By Will Monday, last week, 5 Comments »
“I don’t let spinners bowl to me,” Pietersen said bluntly. “I feel a little bit sorry for the little kid who bowled today but that’s just how I play spinners.”
That was Kevin Pietersen, three years ago to the day after bashing young Piyush Chawla to all parts at Mohali. The 2006 vintage of Pietersen was a fizzy bottle of tangy arrogance, the sort of confidence which overflows so quickly and without pause that he won admirers as quickly as he did enemies. It was difficult to warm to him as a person, but you couldn’t deny that he talked a good game and played an even better one. “Is this bloke for real?” was invariably met with “shit. I think he really is. Thank you, South Africa. Thank you so much. Got any more like him?”
Three years on and the foundation of his arrogance – his ability; his runs – has deserted him. Mediocre spinners are licking their lips; his bat isn’t coming down straight and where is the audacity, the skip down the pitch and the arrogant follow-through?
“I don’t let spinners bowl to me,” he said three years ago. What happened, Kev? Perhaps it’s time he opened the batting: the only safe position for him.
5 Comments »Jackson’s dead. Let’s talk about Hauritz and Flintoff
By Will last year, at the end of June, 3 Comments »
Yeah, so Michael Jackson’s dead. Why isn’t the world talking about the big news of the day, that Nathan Hauritz – Australia’s only specialist spinner – was carted all around Hove like a rag doll in a strong breeze?
I can’t help find it funny. Sure, Australia may blitz us with their four-pronger at Cardiff, but the fact remains they have a hopeless spin attack for the first time in years and years. Most of my life was spent worrying about Warne and his flipper and what it did to our hapless batsmen, so spare me this brief foray into chuckling at his rather less scary replacement.
I’m sure he fields and bats better than Monty, though.
In other news, Alastair Cook cracked a 100 from 57 balls – yes, Alastair Cook of all people – while Flintoff’s found form with 93 from about four balls. I watched a bit of Wimbledon when I got home this evening, and in it Leyton Hewitt was (inevitably) asked about the Ashes. This damned, brilliant series just gets under everyone’s skins. It’s omnipresent – I almost prefer the build-up and the anticipation to the matches themselves. Much in the same way that Christmas Eve was always better than the 25th…
3 Comments »Warne praises Monty’s performance
By Will 4 years ago, mid-August, 2 Comments »
I’m sure Warne doesn’t really write his blog, he’ll surely have a ghost. But it does sound like him…so I remain sceptical! Whatever. He’s been praising Monty today:
I got to see a bit of the Test as well between England and Pakistan. Headingley can be hard work for spinners – I think only 2 wickets have been taken there in the last 10 years by England spinners or something like that so Monty Panesar deserves a lot of applause for his efforts. He spun it on a pitch that normally suits seamers, he changed pace well, bowled with discipline and importantly when things were not happening as Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan were both scoring 150’s, he kept the scoring rate slow.
In fact, he did everything that was asked of him and on a difficult pitch. Well bowled Monty. It’s great to see a left arm spinner tossing it up, turning it and taking wickets. So far – and he has only just started – he looks the real deal. This winter in Australia will be a good challenge for him, the crowds will get on him and no doubt the batsmen, especially the left handers will want to knock him out of his stride. Just the kind of challenge we spinners love!
I also like the way that he plays with a big smile. Every wicket receives a great running jumping celebration. Why not? Fast men do it and so should we. It’s spontaneous and shows how much he cares and how competitive he is. Trust me I don’t mind celebrating a wicket. That’s why I’m there – to get people out.
More at his blog
2 Comments »