Pietersen To Miss Rest Of Ashes
The news wasn't exactly a surprise, but there was still an element of shock attached to the revelation that Kevin Pietersen will miss the next six weeks, and the remainder of the Ashes series, following surgery on his right Achilles tendon.
Deep down it was news I knew was coming - the shock stemming from the fact I didn't want to believe it and an irrational hope for a Flintoff-esque doctor-defying soldiering on (because, let's face it, a 70% fit KP is still one the Aussies are scared of.) Of course, that was a vain hope, the frequent breaks from fielding and wincing in-bewteen the wickets ensuring that the bad news was always going to come some way down the line.
So, where does the news leave England? Well, it puts to bed one of this summer's perpetual worries, and long-term it's good news for KP and England. But no one on this blog is bothered with that. For those of us rightly concerned with the next three, massive Tests, this is terrible news for England. They've lost, in my opinion, the one player they couldn't afford to.
I know Flintoff was superlative at Lord's, but the truth is, he probably hadn't bowled like that since a certain year we English like to mention (a lot) and I could still be confident in his absence - the team have shown they can live (even thrive) without him, and we have a relatively strong battery of reserve bowlers who could take his place. The same is not true with KP.
In many ways it will be a great test for the team, and one they probably needed at some point. Any time but now. Not against this lot. Not when we're one nil up with three to play. Much pressure will be heaped upon his replacement Ian Bell, but the pressure notches will rise considerably too on each of the batsmen in the line-up. Each will need to offer an extra 30% in effectiveness to compensate for the absence of the classiest act among them.
On countless occasions Kevin Pietersen has got his side out of trouble. For the next three Tests they must avoid that trouble in the first place. It wont be easy, and I hope I'm placing too much importance on his inclusion, but his loss is a series prediction-altering one.
If Ponting was looking for something to give his players a lift, he's just found it.
| Posted by Rich on Thu 23 Jul |  14 comments |
Considering the lack of impact KP has had on the series so far, this is far less a blow than losing Flintoff would've been. But when KP is on song like he was in the first innings of Cardiff until the brain explosion, he can dominate and impose his presence. Ian Bell not so much. So yes, I think that will lift the Aussies - hopefully Punter will be more positive in his tactics with Bell at the wicket rather than immediately scattering the field like he did with KP.
Posted by JC on 2009-07-23 09:03:10
Posted by JC on 2009-07-23 09:03:10
I'd much rather lose Flintoff - as I say, he hasn't played like he did at Lord's for a long time, and his batting is unreliable - we've quite possibly seen the best of him this series. KP on the other hand was no where near his best and still wound up our third top scorer. Results over the last few years suggest we can do without Freddie, but KP is our best player by miles and we really struggle without him.
Posted by Rich on 2009-07-23 16:22:12
Posted by Rich on 2009-07-23 16:22:12
England were dealt a huge blow earlier this week when it was announced that their star player Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the rest of this years Ashes series due to an an Achilles injury that he sustained earlier in the year.
Pietersen will be badly missed by England, the middle order batsman scored a sublime 158 on the last day of the 5th Ashes Series in 2005, that innings helped England secure a draw at the Oval and reclaim the Ashes for the first time in 16 years.
Pietersen is renowned for playing a positive brand of Cricket this makes him one of the most feared and respected batsmen in world cricket.
While England will be disappointed that Pietersen can play no further part in this year’s Ashes campaign, it is the hosts who are sitting pretty as of now, with a 1-0 lead after their comprehensive 115 run victory, in the 2nd Test Match.
Posted by ark28 on 2009-07-24 15:55:24
Pietersen will be badly missed by England, the middle order batsman scored a sublime 158 on the last day of the 5th Ashes Series in 2005, that innings helped England secure a draw at the Oval and reclaim the Ashes for the first time in 16 years.
Pietersen is renowned for playing a positive brand of Cricket this makes him one of the most feared and respected batsmen in world cricket.
While England will be disappointed that Pietersen can play no further part in this year’s Ashes campaign, it is the hosts who are sitting pretty as of now, with a 1-0 lead after their comprehensive 115 run victory, in the 2nd Test Match.
Posted by ark28 on 2009-07-24 15:55:24
Didn't this galah bail out of the Ashes last time? They were about 3-0 down then - does he know the result already?
Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-07-24 19:07:32
Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-07-24 19:07:32
I'd pick Flintoff just for his bowling, but his batting resembles a man who just isn't interested in grinding it out anymore. All his dismissals in the series have just shown that he doesn't have the patience or motivation for Test batting (That maybe because he's already announced his retirement or might in part even have caused it, that will remain a question) and that's probably why hes got out playing outside outside off.
KP despite his brain explosions is still as huge a loss for England as Brett Lee is to Australia, and Ian Bell will be targeted no doubt - hes just lucky Warnie isn't there anymore.
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2009-07-24 20:45:50
KP despite his brain explosions is still as huge a loss for England as Brett Lee is to Australia, and Ian Bell will be targeted no doubt - hes just lucky Warnie isn't there anymore.
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2009-07-24 20:45:50
Pietersen hasn't missed a Test since he made his debut in 2005 - that's 54 in a row. When he's been missing for one day matches England have shown just how much they rely on him. There's no doubt in my mind that he's our best player, and suddenly I'm worried about the rest of the series...
Posted by Rich on 2009-07-24 22:15:45
Posted by Rich on 2009-07-24 22:15:45
KP will b miss for sure by england.. He scored some good 30s n 40s. in this series.. with this injury...n played a good knock b4 he got out stupidly by playing pre meditated sweep shot..though point is . Scored some runs with injury is still a good effort
BELL has been in gr8 form in county circuit and a good replacement for KP..n with his real Test match attitude n compact batting style.. i hope he score runs in this series :)
Posted by addy on 2009-07-27 20:22:32
BELL has been in gr8 form in county circuit and a good replacement for KP..n with his real Test match attitude n compact batting style.. i hope he score runs in this series :)
Posted by addy on 2009-07-27 20:22:32
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