Can England recover from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806’s loss? – Opinion – Part One
When it comes to the most threatening batsmen in modern-day cricket, Kevin Pietersen’s name is right up there with the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CH-Gayle-c1221.
Since making his international debut in 2004, the 32-year-old has been England’s premier batsman in all the three formats and is considered among the most intimidating cricketers in the present-day sport, as he takes the attack
to the opposing bowlers in a matchless manner. The right-hander, on his day, can singlehandedly snatch victory from opposition’s jaws.
The legendary player however, threw a bomb-shell on the cricket fans in May, when he retired from the shorter versions of the game, stating hectic international schedule as the reason. However, he will continue to represent his adopted country in Test cricket.
In the recent times, the Poms have started to do well in 50-overs cricket, which has found them wanting in the past. KP has played an immense role in making http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 a force in the game's shorter versions with his sublime hitting.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Cook-c1026, the England captain for the 50-overs format, has admitted that Kevin Pietersen will be missed in limited-overs cricket but expressed that his team did not solely rely on the great batsman to win them games in
past.
Cook expressed earlier this month that the 31-year-old is currently in the form of his life, as he scored two consecutive hundreds against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in his last ODI appearances, and will be dearly missed.
However, the England captain believes that his team have also won in the hard-hitting batsman’s absence and same should be the case in future.
“We have won games before without Kevin Pietersen, against Pakistan in 2010 and against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, and it is time to move on now. Clearly when he’s in the form he is now he’ll be missed, but we’ll move on as a team,” Cook expressed.
Many cricket experts and former players all across the globe are raising question marks over the timing of the batsman’s retirement and feel that he should have carried on as he is merely 32, which is not much for a batsman.
Cook revealed that he himself was shocked to hear the news but the left-handed opener thinks that his side should look forward as Pietersen must have taken the decision after consulting officials.
The England captain said, “It came as a surprise because he was playing so well, but when he makes a decision there’s no turning back. Clearly those discussions have gone on with the ECB and (team coach) http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Flower-c44362, and that’s
probably where those discussions should have been. So, yes, it’s disappointing but we move on and replace him.”
Pietersen played a massive role in England’s title triumph in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 in 2010, which was played in the Caribbean. The lanky batsman was named as the Player of the Tournament but quite ironically, he will not be available for the Poms in the upcoming
mega event, which is scheduled to be held in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in September/October.
As per most of the sporting experts, England’s chances to defend their only global title have been weakened by Pietersen’s retirement. England’s first real test without the great batsman will be the limited-overs series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, which starts tomorrow
and then the World T20.
To be continued…
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