Cricket news: Andy Flower backs selector’s decision of axing Kevin Pietersen from ODI squad
England coach Andy Flower has confirmed that Kevin Pietersen’s recent dip in form has prompted his ouster from the T20 and one-day squads for the remaining fixtures of Pakistan’s tour. Flower wanted Pietersen to utilize the break to find some self-reliance and regain his lost form. The English coach is quite optimistic that KP (Kevin Pietersen) would use the Surrey platform to regain his lost spot in the national side ahead of five-match Ashes series in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 this winter.
Selection committee’s decisions play great role in making and destroying a cricketer’s career, and this has been admitted by Flower as well. The English coach said the selections matters are always been fiddly because a cricketer’s career as well as life depends upon these matters.
"Selection matters are always very tricky because you are talking about people's careers and their lives," said Flower.
But the English coach has defended selection committee’s decision of Pietersen’s omission from limited overs squads. He said that leaving Pietersen behind from ODI squad was a performance-based decision and the batsman would also acknowledge his poor performance over the past two years. "In this particular one, it was simply for ODI purposes and was a performance decision. Kevin would acknowledge himself; he has underperformed over the last 12 to 24 months.”
Shielding the decision of axing him from T20 squad, despite his astounding performance in the 2010 World T20 championship, the coach said that the batsman had been released to take part Surrey County in its four day championship match that kicks off on the day England will face off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in its second T20. Andy said that England’s top priority right now is upcoming Ashes and the selectors thought that the four days of good cricket on a good pitch of The Oval would be a best opportunity for him.
"That will be very important for him to get his confidence back and to find the rhythm of batting for long times again."
On the other hand, former skipper of Surrey Lions Mark Butcher, has claimed that the wandering Kevin Pietersen has no long-standing future with the Lions. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Butcher-c48849 thinks that Surrey does not want KP permanently and believes that next season the nomad would struggle to find any county.
Pietersen joined Surrey County on loan for the rest of 2010 season earlier this week after his previous county http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Worcestershire-c866 on 2nd September, Pietersen once again failed to spark and was caught and by 24-year-old left-arm spinner Shaaiq Choudhry.
The English coach insisted his boys are focused on the upcoming T20 and ODI series despite the ongoing spot-fixing mess surrounding the visitors. The alleged trio featuring Test captain Salman Butt, emerging pacer Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif will no more appear in any of the remaining tour game after being suspended by the International Cricket Council for their “irregular behaviour,” while investigations of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Scotland-c756 Yards and ICC’s Anti Corruption and Security Unit continue.
The hosts might also step in Cardiff without Stuart Broad for the T20Is on September 5. Broad suffered some groin discomfort during training session. The fast bowler will be reassessed today, and if cleared by the physio he will take part in the games, but 25-years old http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajmal-Shahzad-c42489 has been called up as a replacement, in case Broad does not convalesce in time.
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