5 players England must sack after the Ashes whitewash

2. Kevin Pietersen

What do you call it? Natural flair and aggression or fool-hardiness? I think ‘brain-freeze’ describes it the best.

Kevin Pietersen’s displays with the bat revealed complacency to begin with but they degenerated into a casual approach characterized by swotting flies to get out of trouble. Kevin Pietersen’s manner of dismissals (caught at long-on, mid-wicket, deep-square leg!) revealed that he lost his psychological battles and Australia managed to plan his dismissals with relative ease.

When Pietersen did apply himself, it was visible that he was fighting his detractors and critics and the original battle had already been lost. He will still head back home without a century in the 10 innings he played on the tour albeit that he finished as England’s highest run-scorer with an average of just below 30.00. However, the greater perception is that Pietersen is marginalized in the team affairs. He is not a part of on-field banter, planning and is simply not offering his cent percent.

Andy Flower has never looked too comfortable with him since the ‘text-gate’ and even his staunchest supporters can see the writing on the wall. In an ideal situation, the 33-year old experienced campaigner should lend his wisdom and experience to budding new talent but the picture he cuts is that of an arrogant brat who will have it his way or the highway. The question is if England can channelize his talents in a constructive manner even as he remains a peripheral figure in the dressing room? The answer is, I think, no.