So the ECB finally had the balls to tell Kevin Pietersen that they were no longer able to tolerate his divisive behaviour. I must admit I wasn't expecting it, but if there was ever going to be an opportunity, this was it. Straight after an Ashes humiliation and crushing ODI and T20 defeats, with World Cups fast approaching, any decision to close the door on KP could be vindicated by talk of 'going forward' and rebuilding for the future. And that's pretty much what happened this week.
Readers of this blog will know that I am no fan of KP the man. However, the statistics don't lie when they tell the story of a hugely gifted batsman who could win a match, and even a series with just one blistering innings. 277 appearances and almost 14,000 runs for his adopted country speak volumes for his cricketing ability. Like many, his career has in largely been defined by his performances against Australia and they have on the whole been positive ones. Yet, unlike almost every England player in post-war history, it is KP the human being who has made just as many headlines, and they have rarely been glowing.
He has upset people at evey club he represented, abandoning South Africa when he couldn't walk into the national side, Nottinghamshire when he pissed off team-mates and management alike, Hampshire when he declared the drive down the M3 to Southampton was too far from his London home, and England on any number of occasions. Botham and Flintoff often pushed the patience of management to the limit but usually survived. Times have changed and, even after Andy Flower's departure, those remaining at the top, apparently supported by senior players, have bitten the bullet and left him out of the next touring parties. There are other issues to resolve but this was the first, brave step along the road to recovery.
For all his words, the England badge tattoo, there have remained doubts about his true allegiance. I don't mean that 'textgate' suggests he still favoured the land of his birth, but that KP's allegiance has always been, and always will be, to himself. However, he was not to blame for England's disastrous trip Down Under. Not on the pitch, anyway. Maverick characters like his attract the undying affection of diehard cricket fans, who are also quick to blame the 'suits'. No doubt we will have to wait until the autumn ghosted autobiographies to learn the truth, or the different versions of the truth, regarding what happened in the England dressing room, especially the decisive post-Ashes post-mortem led by Cook and Prior.
What is not in doubt is Pietersen's flair, whether his dodgy haircuts, those tattoos, or the flamboyant 'flamingo' shot. For all the brilliance of Cook, Trott, Bell, Anderson, Broad, Swann et al, I can't imagine many people flocking to Lord's, Sydney, Centurion or Mumbai just to see them play. KP was another matter.
Yet despite that I still think Paul Downton, James Whitaker have made the correct decision. Without it, there would have been more years when all questions would have been around accommodating KP's desire for IPL and Other T20 contracts. KP is NOT bigger than England, no matter what he thinks. It's a while since he made a great innings for the side but he does leave a hole in the side.
If England fail to win the World Cup or T20 tournament, KP's absence will be cited as a reason, yet even he cannot win every competition in which he particpates. It's an eleven-a-side game. To be optimistic, his departure leaves the number four position vacant for someone else (Bell, Moeen Ali, Nick Compton, James Taylor?) to make it his own. That would be a great outcome, and well worth the gamble. Fingers crossed...
