Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

There's only so much a coach could do though regarding the players performance.

---------------------------------------

I thought you just said that you would blame him ?

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

You said, "If Any of those batsmen fail to perform, I'll blame Flowers (a bit)".

What "order" would they need to bat in for flowers not to be partly to blame for their failure ?

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Goodbye

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

KP - would you pick him regardless of his frame of mind if he was fit to play?

--------------------------------------

Not regardless of his frame of mind, no.

England dropped him last season because of his state of mind, and in the circumstances they were right to do so.

Assuming he's fit and in decent form though, then I would pick him if his attitude was right for sure, as he is a very talented player.

Hopefully he will be fit, in decent nick and in a reasonable frame of mind for the Ashes

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

If that is a genuine enquiry, then I would refer your to espncricinfo.

If you are suggesting that he should be picked irrespective of his frame of mind, then I would suggest that not only have you made your point in a very odd way, but that you point has no substance.

A player can not be picked irrespective of their state of mind - whether that's KP or anyone else, and anyone contrary suggestion would be extremely foolish indeed. In fact there have been several instances of players withdrawing from games on the basis that they were not in the right frame of mind - and understandably so.

What has prompted you raising this matter anyway ? Have you heard a rumour that KP is not in the right state of mind to play ?

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

With regards to KP - he's been out injured so I am guessing he will be pumped up to return. Probably more pumped than normal - eager to go out and impress.

-----------------------------------------

He might be, but then again he was clearly extremely emotional when he was dropped last year.

He was dropped on the grounds that he was causing disruption to the team and that he was not in the right state of mind to play.

The decision was pretty much universally accepted.

I don't think there is generally an issue with cricketers being too pumped up for games, but certainly if their is an issue with their mental approach to the game then they may well not be selected as happened with KP last season and as has happened on other occasions with other players.

Your suggestion that a player should be picked irrespective of his state of mind is a really strange one that I don't understand.

No doubt Pietersen will be raring to go in the Ashes if he's fit, but I would expect him to come into the game with a balanced temperament, and there is no reason to suspect that he will be so "pumped up" that his state of mind should be brought into question. He will know that - as last season - if his state of mind isn't right, then he won't play, and that in itself should guarantee that his mind is right.

I'm sure all the players will be quietly focused on the series by the time it starts.