COLOMBO: Controversial South Africa-born England middle-order batsman Kevin Pietersen divides opinion as readily as he destroys the world’s best attacks.
Pietersen was sacked as England captain for airing his concerns about the coach and dropped last August for sending text messages about former skipper Andrew Strauss to the opposing South African side.
On Friday, he announced his reconciliation with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) which could pave his way back to the national side as soon as next month’s tour of India.
In the meantime he must undergo what ECB chairman Giles Clarke called a ‘re-integration process’ amid reports that not all his team mates hold him in the highest esteem.
But whatever your opinion of the 32-year-old South African-born batsman, Pietersen’s talent is undeniable. And on the evidence of defending champions’ England’s limp departure on Monday from the Twenty20 World Cup, his return can not come soon enough.
Pietersen’s ability to fall out with, or alienate, members of several of the teams he has played for lends ammunition to those who argue England should not accommodate someone who does his own thing in what is ultimately a team sport.
His own thing, however, is what makes him the player he is and what makes spectators love his style and prompt opposition players and coaches to marvel at his ability.
It was Pietersen who pioneered the ‘switch-hit,’ in 2008, twice thumping New Zealand’s Scott Styris over the ropes after changing to a left-hander’s stance as the bowler approached.
In his most recent international appearance he scored a stunning 149 against South Africa at Headingley and drew lavish praise from opposition coach Allan Donald.
‘The knock that I’ve seen today reminds me of bowling to Brian Lara, a bit of a genius,’ Donald said. ‘I’m really not sure what more we could have done. You have to take your hat off to him because he played seriously well.’
Given the terms of his England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) central contract, he would no longer be considered for the Twenty20 World Cup as England’s policy is not to let players pick and choose between limited overs formats.
Now he has committed to play in all three formats of the game for England until 2015, even though a lot can happen in the mind of Kevin Pietersen during that time.
Although his detractors believe the texts to players from the country of his birth confirm is a flag-of-convenience cricketer, the Pietersen story is far more complex.
Born in Natal in 1980 to a South African father and a mother from Kent, Pietersen has displayed a single-minded self-confidence since making his first-class debut at the age of 17. (Reuters)