Many people are still apoplectic about the Kevin Pietersen sacking. “He was a scapegoat” they cry “he was our best batsman and the faceless suits murdered him”. Similar things were said about Jim Morrison when he was arrested in Miami for exposing himself on stage. “The establishment don’t like what he represents man” fans of The Doors said. “It’s a CIA conspiracy against individualism baby”. What they forget, of course, is that simulating fellatio in front of thousands of people is against the...
Never apologise, never explain
A week ago today, I began a post by saying: Ten days have now passed since the confidentiality agreement expired and still the ECB haven’t told us why they sacked Kevin Pietersen. What are they waiting for? Make that seventeen days. More than a fortnight has elapsed – and nearly twelve days since the book – and not a single word from Lord’s. John Etheridge, cricket correspondent of The Sun, had this to say on Dmitri Old’s blog this morning (where you can also read a...
Anderson on Pietersen
Here’s James Anderson, reacting to the Pietersen book on Clare Balding’s BT Sport show.
The same themes keep recurring in all these interviews: a shame, sad, overshadows.
With the greatest respect to Anderson himself, are they are all reading from an ECB script?
You can see the full interview on BT Sport 1 at 10.15pm tonight.
The strength of their case
Let’s take a look at the piece by Mike Selvey, chief cricket correspondent of the Guardian, which has ruffled a lot of feathers during the last twenty four hours or so. For those unfamiliar with his work in recent months, Selvey (above) has acquired a reputation as a Pietersenphobe, a Flowerite, and an apologist for the establishment. He described Paul Downton’s performance as “excellent”. This is his first outing since the Pietersen book, and has already been the...
Self-raising Flower
My earliest happiest cricketing memory is the 1985 Ashes. I remember David Gower, in his gilded, silky pomp (732 runs at 81.33, including a 166, a 157 and a 215). I remember an authoritative Graham Gooch, my first sight of him in England colours. I remember Andrew Hilditch, happily hooking. I remember Richard Ellison, scything his way through those forlorn Aussies (seventeen wickets in only two tests). I do not remember who the England coach was. Think back to your fondest memories of...
One Day in the Life of Ivon Ivonovich: chapter one
This piece first appeared on the Guardian BTL pages. Its author has now kindly shared it with The Full Toss Camp 34.7, Omsk, Siberia – October 11 Winter advances apace. The cruel wet snow is a constant reminder of the impossible, relentless struggles that lie in the months ahead. And why? For what end? The prospect of Spring brings no relief – so distant does it seem, such a bleak reminder of the good men we are to lose before then. But oh! – despite the cold, our hearts are...
