The bold, intimidating and unapologetic Kevin Pietersen brought the curtains down on his cricket career on Saturday, 17 March. The inventor of the ‘switch hit’ bid an emotional goodbye to cricket.
Pietersen made his debut against Zimbabwe in 2004, but his first big international tournament was against South Africa, a few months later. When he walked onto the pitch of his home soil, playing in England colors, he was faced with hostility.
He scored three centuries over the course of the One-Day International series, and by the end of it had won the hearts of the spectators and gained their acceptance and respect.
Next came the 2005 Ashes. With 473 runs to his name, he was the highest scorer for England, and thus helped the team win the series for the first time since 1987. With his 158-run knock in the final test, he announced himself to the world.
In the same year, he was also recognised by the International Cricket Council, by being declared both the Emerging Player of the Year and the ODI Player of the Year.
Pietersen’s batting style was a true expression of his personality. It was fearless, rebellious and thoroughly entertaining.
Muttiah Muralitharan, in his pre-delivery motion, would put the fear of god into almost any batsman. However, Pietersen never was your average batsmen. Instead of turning his bat to defend, he turned his entire body 180 degrees, took his bat into his left hand and smashed the ball for a six over cover. Unorthodox and executed to perfection.
In the 2007 ODI World Cup, Pietersen averaged 50+ runs per game and was the top scorer for England. Unfortunately, he could not see his side past the semi-final stage and little did we know that this was the last time he featured in the 50-over World Cup.
In 2010, however, England’s first, and till date only, win at an ICC tournament in history came due to him. England lifted the World Twenty20 Cup, primarily due to Pietersen’s contribution of 248 runs throughout the tournament. He was named the Man of the Tournament.
Later that year, his 227-run innings in Australia helped England win the first Ashes Test. He was one of the highest scorers with 360 runs in the series, and England won the series 3-1.
He could not play the 2011 World Cup owing to an illness and in 2012, he was not picked in the team for the World Twenty20, and England saw an early exit.
Re-integrated into the team later that year, he made a memorable contribution when England beat India in India 2-1 in the Test series. His 186-run innings in the second test was crucial in allowing England to level the series.
Unfortunately, neither of these historic performances were enough for him to cement his place in the national team for long. Pietersen continued to find himself in the midst of controversy.
What could have been an even more illustrious career, encountered obstacles on several occasions. Pietersen and the ECB were engaged in a constant battle, of which the ultimate and only loser was the game of cricket.
Whether or not they wanted to accept it, England needed Pietersen. As a lucky charm or irreplaceable batsman, he was the common factor in the majority of their commendable victories.
He played his last international game in 2014, after which he became a T20 expert, and featured in various leagues across the world, including the Indian Premier League.
The announcement of his retirement, thus, seems far too premature. Although, 37 is an acceptable age, there is definitely a lot of unconventional cricket still left in him. Fans world over were still clinging onto the hope that he would make an international comeback in the Proteas jersey in 2019.
But as always, he will do just as he pleases and give the media a little more to talk about. Positive, this time.
Ciao, KP! Thank you!
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