pietersen should possibly be dropped for now

[Neil Pickup]

As Marc quite correctly pointed out when I repeatedly called for Giles' omission, "what is the point if there is no-one better."

You feeling okay?!

 

[social]

You feeling okay?!

Notice how I fell short of stating that Giles was test-standard

Unfortunately for Eng, he's better than Udal. Whether he's better that all other contenders remains to be seen.

 

[wpdavid]

Geez, talk about panic stations from some people.

As an Aus supporter, I'd like nothing more than to see Eng chop and change their team.

However, people should realise (as Im sure the Eng selectors do) that:

a. the sub-continent is very different to almost everywhere else in the world and it takes time to learn how to play there;

b. the task is made doubly difficult if you dont have a spinner; and

c. Eng's current team has just lost their first series for 2 years.

In other words, no need for wholesale chages YET.

To be fair, no-one's suggesting that. The question about KP's place in the side is a fair one, even if the answer is almost certainly that he should stay. Beyond that, we're discussing alternatives to Giles, not least because he may not be fit for India, bringing back Jones for India, which is a nobrainer really, and whether Fred should bat at 7, which is also a pretty fair question given his form with the bat overseas.

 

[simmy]

Hopefully he will hit some forms in the onedayers batting properly... then carry this into the India test matches.

 

[simmy]

Is Panesar considered a serious alternative for Giles?

 

[simmy]

Does he turn the ball much, I've never seen him bowl!

 

[Shounak]

He obviously won't be dropped, but I think he will struggle in India. Not because of his defence, because I think there is nothing wrong with it. Its temperamental issues really, because other than that he's got the goods.

I think his temperament is perfect.. He never gets too riled up. He'll hit two sixes in a row and just block the next ball. He plays each ball on its merits and never lets the bowler get to him..

I was watching the Ashes and the Eng/SA matches closely and I loved what I saw.. It doesn't matter what the bowler does or says, Pietersen quite literally seems to be in a world of his own (in a good way)..

I personally think his temperament is damn near perfect.. Although he is a bit of a show pony off field.. Not that it matters.

 

[Dasa]

I think his temperament is perfect.. He never gets too riled up. He'll hit two sixes in a row and just block the next ball. He plays each ball on its merits and never lets the bowler get to him..

I was watching the Ashes and the Eng/SA matches closely and I loved what I saw.. It doesn't matter what the bowler does or says, Pietersen quite literally seems to be in a world of his own (in a good way)..

I personally think his temperament is damn near perfect.. Although he is a bit of a show pony off field.. Not that it matters.

His temperament is obviously not perfect if he keeps getting out to stupid shots and needed 2 (I think?) dropped catches to get to his 100 against Pakistan...sure he played well in between the drops, but none of them were difficult chances and he was extremely lucky. Not only that, immediately after he got to 100, he got himself out with another daft shot and keeps playing them regardless of the match situation. It worked in the Ashes, it hasn't worked so far in the subcontinent.

 

[honestbharani]

I don't think it is time for him yet to be either dropped or judged.

 

[wpdavid]

Is Panesar considered a serious alternative for Giles?

Not previously, mainly because he's a traditional number XI, which means Hoggard or Simon Jones would bat at 8. However, if Fred & Geraint Jones each moved down a place that wouldn't be an issue.

Whether he's a better bowler is not an easy call. When Giles plays a handful of games in the CC nowadays, he does really well, especially considering they tend to be at the start of the season. In his absence for the rest of the season, there's a tendancy to assume that all sorts of people are a better bet, which isn't always the case (see Udal, S.).

 

[marc71178]

I think his temperament is perfect.. He never gets too riled up. He'll hit two sixes in a row and just block the next ball. He plays each ball on its merits and never lets the bowler get to him..

You are joking right?

 

[open365]

There is no value what so ever in dropping Pietersen.

Has everyone forgotten the dark days of England cricket where the selectors dropped more players than
Jones does catches?

The last thing England need right now is to drop KP.

Every player goes through bad form and it has to be expected that Pietersen will too especaily after his heroics of the last 2 years.
Look at what he has acheived already in his short career and you can only come to the conclusion that he is a cert on the team sheet.

 

[Hodgo7]

i.e left out of the test side in india to make room for collingwood. (after pakistan bell has to stay). he has repeatedly shown that while a quite brilliant shotmaker he lacks the patience and defensive technique that a reliable test batsman requires in certain conditions.

I would feel more confident with collingwood in there as a much needed middle order anchor to balance out the attack minded flintoff and jones.

admittedly colly is more of a one day batsman himself but he has already proven that he is more resiliant in crisis, makes more responsible shot selections and plays with sounder technique. these are all crucial qualities needed to help avoid collapse and, when necessary, bat for very long periods of time - something that this england team has never really managed to do. to be fair we haven't needed to much but all out attack cannot work on every wicket against every team.

collingwood's the man. pietersen can come back when he learns to defend.

I hope you aren't English. Im Australian and this is a 'bloody stupid idea. With players like KP you have to take the good and the bad. I bet you every Englishmen in here (I hope you are one actually) would take an innings like he played against us in the last Ashes test chucked in with a few mediocre performances. Thats what you get with a player like KP. You play to your strengths which in this case is playing your strokes. Collingwood is an okay player, but one half-decent series doesn't make a player.

 

[Hodgo7]

I think his temperament is perfect.. He never gets too riled up. He'll hit two sixes in a row and just block the next ball. He plays each ball on its merits and never lets the bowler get to him..

.

Just because a player can bang a few then block the next ball has nothing to do with temperament. What if its a full-toss ? Smack it again. He doesn't have a great temperament in the Test Arena. Still believe he is more suited to the one-day game but should definately not be dropped or even lowered down the order for the test side.

 

[Jono]

I think his temperament is perfect.. He never gets too riled up. He'll hit two sixes in a row and just block the next ball. He plays each ball on its merits and never lets the bowler get to him..

I was watching the Ashes and the Eng/SA matches closely and I loved what I saw.. It doesn't matter what the bowler does or says, Pietersen quite literally seems to be in a world of his own (in a good way)..

I personally think his temperament is damn near perfect.. Although he is a bit of a show pony off field.. Not that it matters.

Did you watch some of his dismissals in the Pakistan series? Everyone knew that all Pietersen had to do after getting to his century, was see off Shoaib and the new ball, and it'd be pretty rosey from there. Instead he tried to pull him for 6 and went out the very next ball after he brought up his ton. Temperament isn't just not letting the bowler get to you. Its also knowing when to play your shots and when to shelve them. He is far from perfect at that.

Dravid is someone you'd say has a near perfect temperament. The word 'perfect' must be loosely used in your vocabulary I guess.

 

[Pothas]

dropping piterson would clearly be obsurd. He is a very anoying batsmen who does have the capability to play a sensible inings but i am unsure if he will ever mature into a batsman that doesnt often get out playing a horrible shot. Even if he doesnt then he should still always be in the side. I agree against India Flintoff would probably be better of at number 7 but as has already been said i dont think that is really possible so he is just going to have to bat better.

 

[Barney Rubble]

If Giles isn't fit for India, I'm starting to lean towards Fred dropping to 7:

Tres
Strauss
Vaughan
Bell
KP
Colly
Fred
GoJo
Harmy
Jonah
Panesar/Keedy

I have a feeling Hoggmeister might struggle in India. He's been punished in Pakistan so far when the ball hasn't swung. He'll come straight back in for the English summer, though, no doubt.

 

[Shounak]

Ok.. I haven't been following any of the play in the subcontinent.. Just not interesting when I can't watch it..

But from what I saw in SA and England.. His temperament was solid and didn't look like it needed much improvement.. He didn't get too carried away in those situations..

Perhaps it's the hubris settling in and nature taking its course.. If it is, it's a shame..

 

[wpdavid]

If Giles isn't fit for India, I'm starting to lean towards Fred dropping to 7:

Tres
Strauss
Vaughan
Bell
KP
Colly
Fred
GoJo
Harmy
Jonah
Panesar/Keedy

I have a feeling Hoggmeister might struggle in India. He's been punished in Pakistan so far when the ball hasn't swung. He'll come straight back in for the English summer, though, no doubt.

If Giles is still unfit, that would be my XI too. Only 4 bowlers isn't the end of the world when Bell & Colly can be trusted send down a few. Or even Vaughan, who probably turns it more than some of our specialist spinners.

 

[Jono]

Ok.. I haven't been following any of the play in the subcontinent.. Just not interesting when I can't watch it..

But from what I saw in SA and England.. His temperament was solid and didn't look like it needed much improvement.. He didn't get too carried away in those situations..

Perhaps it's the hubris settling in and nature taking its course.. If it is, it's a shame..

In South Africa he was playing ODIs only, and for some of them he was chasing huge targets (I think one or two matches). That's totally different to choosing when to play your shots and when not to. In a ODI you don't get to a ton, and then the opposition gets another new ball which you need to see off. Its a totally different game.

He's a top player and can be absolutely devastating, but he's far from perfect and one of his flaws is shot selection and building an innings when under pressure. That doesn't mean he can't perform under pressure, because I don't think it gets to him at all. Its just his natural game which can cause problems.

In the Ashes he played very well. The last test his knock was crucial, but he played his natural game and was let off.