New ECB chief keeps door open for KP: A lifeline for Kevin Pietersen?

New ECB chief keeps door open for KP: A lifeline for Kevin Pietersen?: In the recent developments, New ECB chairman Colin Graveswhen asked about Kevin Pietersen’s possible return to England Cricket team by BBC Radio 5  said “The first thing he’s got to do if he wants to get back is play county cricket for somebody”. He also said that he would not be involved in any final decision regarding Pietersen. He added “It’s down to the selectors, down to the coaches, of what they see, what is best for English cricket. They will make the decisions and I will support them when it comes to that decision.”

Reacting to the above developments, Kevin Pietersen reiterated his desire to play for England again. Pietersen, sacked by England over a year ago, is currently unattached after leaving Surrey, but admitted he was ‘pleasantly surprised’ by Graves’s remarks.

But the home-coming for Kevin Pietersen, might not be that easy as his contract with Surrey expired last year  and he might have to sacrifice one or both of his Twenty20 franchise deals in India and West Indies.

Kevin Pietersen played 104 tests for England scoring 8181 runs and he also represented England in 136 ODIs accumulated 4440 runs before he was sacked from English Cricket team after England were whitewashed 5-0 by Australia in the Ashes Test series.

Since then it has been a bumpy ride for England Cricket team losing home Test series to Sri Lanka. Although they were able to win against India in home series, but their show in ODIs has been very dismal. They lost the home series to India and rubbing from Sri Lanka in Sri Lankan conditions. This prompted ECB to drop Alastair Cook as ODI captain and appoint Eoin Morgan as the ODI captain.

Appointment of Eoin Morgan has not brought any change in fortune as England continues their lean performances in the ongoing World Cup. England’s biggest problem is the lack of impact players in the squad. They not able to find out players who could stand out and the turn the tide the team’s favour or inspire the fellow teammates with his individual performance.

KP could just be the right player England wants to have in team. He has always been a match winner for England. KP showed his class in Ashes debut in 2004 by taking on the likes of Mcgrath and Warne. He has scored all around the world in Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and even in sun continental conditions of India and Sri Lanka. KP was quite instrumental in England’s Test series win in India in the year 2012. His 186 in 2nd test of the series is considered as one of the best knock in India by a foreign batsman.

England not requires KP as a batsman, but his aggressive attitude in the middle is the much needed attribute for the English Cricket. Bowlers around the world always find a challenge to bowl to KP. England has a very tuff 2015 itinerary with away tours of West Indies and South Africa adding to the hosting of New Zealand and much awaited home Ashes series. If KP’s gets some runs in county cricket his return to the English team could just be right spark England cricket needs.