The next chapter in the Kevin Pietersen autobiography is Pietersen and his disillusionment.

At this point, PIETERSEN had fallen out with everybody, the team, the coach and the ECB. He was left out of the England squad for the tour of India. He was also denied the central contract and dropped from the T20 World Cup squad despite making himself available for all the 3 formats. However, he went to Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup as a commentator which the ECB tried their best to block. Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman wanted Pietersen to be in the team to India because the series was huge by any standard. A series loss would have meant personal for Clarke. Inorder to avoid that he needed to sell it to Andy Flower who was adamant not to include KP. Now, KP had to be reintegrated.

Flower had one condition. KP must talk to every player individually and explain himself. Actually, he must beg for their forgiveness which KP disliked but since playing for England was close to his heart, he agreed to do that. The Champions League was underway in South Africa where Pietersen was playing for the Delhi Daredevils. He flew to England and then back to South Africa all within 3 days. In the meantime, he met the players, the coach and the captain, Cook at a hotel in Oxford.

The meeting

The first meeting was with Andy Flower to whom KP asked some pertinent questions like the James Taylor leak and asked him how can he trust him again. Flower did not answer. Afterwards, Flower would fetch the players one-by-one to whom KP had to apologise. KP took all of that in his stride for his burning desire of playing for England again. Pietersen wondered whether anyone else would think about the reasons for the breakdown in relations. Whether Flower did anything to condone the person who was behind the parody Twitter account. He just could not fathom the irony of it all. Others who had tweeted and re-tweeted from his parody account, Swann describing him as a horrible captain etc, going scot-free whereas he had to sit through a humiliation.

He had one satisfaction in the end, of beating Andy Flower in his own game. KP thought that Flower would have hoped that KP would not come over from South Africa and put himself through such horrendous process but the fact that KP turned up and went through the annihilation without saying anything must have made Flower sad. Another instance that KP narrates was that he went to the house of Strauss to apologise to him personally after Strauss played his last game. He was sincere in his efforts and apologised to Strauss for marring his final Test and that he never mentioned anything to the South Africans about his batting but must have supported him because Strauss was the captain. He also apologised to his wife.

The reintegration

The reintegration process started and KP was back in the team for the tour to India. He did whatever was asked without sulking. The onething he hated was team meetings where the same things were said again and again. On the tour to India, Flower asked KP to meet him once a week to ensure that they were insync. KP wanted these sessions to be more than just going through the motions. It is not that KP never found Flower useful. Infact, he has dedicated an entire paragraph going into how Flower helped him improve his technique when he was scoring 50s and 60s. Flower used to point to the innings that KP played against Australia in 2006 and suggested improvements. Now, though, Flower was caught up in a power struggle and things went downhill.

Anyway, back at Oxford, KP did not meet with Broad. Now, he met him in Mumbai and immediately confronted him about the Twitter page. Broad was evasive and said that he didn’t have any idea until later in the series. Piers Morgan, a good friend of Pietersen, pieced together the entire Tweets and found that it originated at Broad’s house one evening while Broad was there. Kevin wanted to put an end to everything and start afresh which he did. When Cook first took over, he wanted to put an end to all the internal bullying. Prior, Swann & Broad would shout at the fielders whenever there was a misfield. Prior was the worst of them. It stopped for a time being but crept up again in India.

Wrapping up Pietersen and his disillusionment

KP confronted Prior during the series but it did not make things better. Prior became the vice-captain after Broad left the tour because of an injury and it went to his head. He just wouldn’t change. The Indian tour was a success from both a personal point of view and the team’s point of view. That one innings at Mumbai will be spoken forever by those who have seen that innings. After the series, Prior tweeted with a picture of KP, “reintegration complete. Well played”. Prior also told the Daily Mail that it was his phone call to Pietersen that paved the way for reintegration. He also said that during such a tough tour as India, Kev knew where to go and in which restaurants to eat. These small things are vital during such tours. Kevin however realised that the calm before the storm erupts.

Autobiography

https://icricketcritique.com/kevin-pietersen-and-the-meeting/
https://icricketcritique.com/kevin-pietersen-captaincy-and-moores/
https://icricketcritique.com/pietersen-and-his-early-life/
https://icricketcritique.com/pietersen-and-the-ipl/
https://icricketcritique.com/pietersen-and-rahul-dravid/
https://icricketcritique.com/pietersen-and-county-cricket/
https://icricketcritique.com/pietersen-and-the-big-cheese/
https://icricketcritique.com/pietersen-and-controversies/
https://icricketcritique.com/pietersen-and-the-textgate/
https://icricketcritique.com/pietersen-and-his-disillusionment/
https://icricketcritique.com/pietersen-and-confronting-abuse/
https://icricketcritique.com/pietersen-and-the-final-breakdown/
https://icricketcritique.com/pietersen-and-the-final-chapter/

Explore More

The role of a cricket captain

Cricket, like any other team sport, requires strong leadership to succeed. The captain of a cricket team is responsible for more than just making on-field decisions. They are the face of the team, the link between the players and the management and the driving force behind the team’s success. In this article, I will dwell on the various roles and responsibilities of a cricket captain. The role of a cricket captain. On-field decision making One of the most crucial roles of a cricket captain is to make tactical decisions on the field. They have to read the pitch, the conditions and the opposition team and make decisions that can swing the game in their team's favour. Once these things are studied, analysed and accounted for, the crucial decision of what to do if the toss is won must be decided. Here the captain can invite free and frank discussion with the team but the ultimate decision rests with the captain. There are so many instances of the captain being vilified for choosing the wrong option after winning the toss. The most famous instance is that of Nasser Hussain opting to bowl at the Brisbane Gabba all those years ago only for Hayden, Langer and Ponting to pummel the English bowlers into submission. Once, the team is on the field, he is all alone. Sure, the captain can always consult with the teammates but the flow of the game will be such that he will be required to take instant decisions based on nothing more than a hunch. The captain has to decide which bowler to use, when to change the field and when to declare or set a target. A good captain can sense the momentum of the game and make decisions that can turn the tide in their team's favour. Team selection: The captain plays a vital role in team selection. They have to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their team and pick the right players to fill the various positions. They have to consider the pitch and the conditions while selecting the team. They also have to factor in the form and fitness of the players before making a decision. A captain who can pick the right team can give their team a significant advantage. Being the captain is a thankless job. Far too many times, they are required to take some tough decisions. That is the reason Ganguly’s and Kohli’s decision of leaving the highest wicket-taker of their sides out of the playing eleven was hard to digest. They were based on sound cricketing logic rather than anything else. Motivation and inspiration: A captain is also responsible for motivating and inspiring their team. They have to instill a sense of belief and confidence in their players, especially during tough times. A good captain can lead by example, displaying a positive attitude and working hard on and off the field. They have to encourage their players to give their best and never give up. Captains lead by example is a phrase often heard in cricketing circles. It is not without reason. Motivated and performing captains often inspire the entire team to achieve greater heights that they may not have otherwise. Media and public relations: A cricket captain is also the face of the team in the media and public. They have to attend press conferences and interviews and handle questions from journalists and fans. They have to present a positive image of the team and communicate the team's goals and objectives. They also have to handle criticism and negativity in a professional manner. Captains can never lose their composure. The media may invent non-existent rivalries or rifts. Captains will have to deal with them calmly. Role model and mentor: Finally, a cricket captain is a role model and mentor for their players. They have to set an example in terms of discipline, work ethic, and team spirit. They have to mentor the younger players and help them grow and develop their skills. They have to create a culture of excellence and teamwork within the team. Far too often, Asian teams, especially Indian teams have this habit of seniors and juniors. The Indian teams of 70s, 80s and 90s were faction driven. Juniors were not treated well and as equal by the seniors. The situation was quite bad until the turn of the millennium. Ganguly changed all that. Now, it is a team of equals. Wrapping up the role of a cricket captain In conclusion, the role of a cricket captain is multifaceted and complex. They have to make tactical decisions on the field, select the right team, motivate and inspire their players, handle media and public relations, and be a role model and mentor for their team. A good captain can make a significant difference to their team's success, and their leadership skills can be the difference between winning and losing.

Cricket, like any other team sport, requires strong leadership to succeed. The captain of a cricket team is responsible for more than just making on-field decisions. They are the face

Read More

The incredible Harry Brooks

The incredible Harry Brooks

Harry Brooks has announced himself on the international stage in a grand manner. The start he has had in his career has nothing short of incredible. Ofcourse, these are early

Read More

Bairstow opening and Boycott accusation

Bairstow opening and Boycott accusation

In this analysis, let us look at a couple of recent comments made by former England cricketers. One by David Lloyd. The other by none other than the magnificent commentator,

Read More