What the team think...

Eurosport - Mon, 04 Aug 16:44:00 2008

England's Test team talk about the appointment of Kevin Pietersen and the departure of Michael Vaughan.

Kevin Pietersen, 1st Test v SA, CRICKET - 0

Andrew Flintoff: "Kevin's a great player, a strong character in the dressing room. I'm sure he'll have no problems doing it and will have all the lads behind him. He's a very fine player in both forms of the game. He's a very determined and single-minded man who knows what he wants. Kevin has a lot of qualities that people want in a captain. He is a good lad. He's a very motivated person. What people don't realise about Kevin is that he goes out and plays all these weird and wonderful shots but there's a lot of preparation that goes into that hard work."

Andrew Strauss: "KP is a very decisive person and I am sure he will feel he is up to the challenge. It is a bit of a step into the unknown because he hasn't captained before but it is a new start for us. We are all very sad Michael has decided to step down. Having been such an influential figure in the dressing room, it is going to take some getting used to someone else being in charge. The one thing I would say about Kevin is everything he has done in his career so far, he has easily stepped up to the mark and found a way to deal with it. He is an exceptional batsman and it would take quite a lot for something external to affect his batting."

Alastair Cook: "I thought 'Straussy' had a really good chance too but they've chosen Kevin and he's got some really good people around him. He's an excellent batter and demands respect with his batting. He's also not shy of making the big decisions - those big decisions are not going to affect that style of guy. He hasn't done too much captaining before so it will be interesting but all I know is he has the support of everyone."

Tim Ambrose: "Michael's in a bit of a slump at the moment but everyone goes through that, he's been through it before, and I'm sure he'll be back. He feels with this decision he'll be able to relax and enjoy his cricket a bit more and everyone plays better when they're enjoying themselves. I'm sure we haven't seen the last of Michael Vaughan. I really enjoyed playing under him. Hopefully he can go on, get some runs, get in the team and hopefully we'll still be able to play with him."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. I think many of the above are incorrect in their­ assessment of Pietersen. He is the most dedicated­ cricketer in the side. He is the only one in the team­ guaranteed his place in all three style of­ matches.Strauss would not be included in the one-days­ and anyway his form is pretty abysmal inspite of a fine­ century earlier this summer. Pietersen will I think­ bring a new aggression to the England team as well as­ some exciting field placings, and I suspect will score­ MORE runs.He tends to make his biggest innings when he­ starts slowly and has to grind out the first­ half-century.His new responsibilities will ensure he­ must give away his wicket sparingly.He already hasa­ very good rapport with Ian bell at the other end which­ I think will continue to burgeon. Finally will the­ "little Englanders" like Angus Fraser please­ stop bringing up his nationality as a criticism.He has­ done everything asked of him and couldn't be more­ pro-British so please give it a rest. A man who lies­ second in the all time table for most number of runs­ scored for his first 25 Test matches,(Bradman being­ No.1) surely deserves our support and respect. Atherton­ et al take note.

    From BIJ, on Tue 5 Aug 3:33AM

  2. Least anyone forgets there's an Ashes series to be­ fought next summer.MV looks to have sacrificed the­ captaincy to give England a chance of winning it.On his­ day he is still capable of being a world class­ batsman.I will be betting on him scoring at least 2­ tons against them next year.
    Trouble with making KP the­ skipper now is that there are too many variables if it­ goes wrong and the selectors will not know what needs­ to be fixed.His technical captaincy, leadership­ qualities, decision making , ego or the players­ themselves?
    Strauss should have been the obvious­ choice ... But had he been on form would MV be quitting­ anyway? Sad that this has not been better prepared­ for...

    From mdan140561, on Mon 4 Aug 10:21PM

  3. No doubt they all will say that so as to be pally with­ him and be in the team even if they are pure pssengers­ and do not make any contribution to maintain English­ Cricket's greatness

    From gopal s, on Mon 4 Aug 6:23PM

  4. Oops someones made a big mistake here, lets hope they­ don't live to regret it. To be a good leader you­ need the respect of the men behind you, not sure­ KP's got that!!!!

    From palinejad, on Mon 4 Aug 6:05PM

  5. why all the doom and gloom? give him a chance before­ you call it a day for the english team

    From chrystal_rainbow, on Mon 4 Aug 4:52PM

  6. SA are only where the are because of the amount of­ Englishmen showing you what to do thats the sad thing­ from an english point of view.

    From buttyhome, on Mon 4 Aug 3:43PM

  7. lol now England needs a South African man 2­ "try" and lead them 2 victory! Shame must­ hurt when you event a sport and the old­ "Colonials" kick your bum! Go South Africa,­ we not 2nd best team in both games!

    P.S. not 2 even­ mention Rugby Champs!

    From g_whiteley, on Mon 4 Aug 3:23PM

  8. I feel that Engish cricket has gone back to the time­ when we were not winning anything andnever did look­ like winning anything. Complete clearout needed top to­ bottom start again.Vaughan has gone and the England­ team still looks likea load of old boys looking after­ ther job nomatter how bad they are. KP as captain is a­ massive step backwards. England have dropped the ball­ again.

    From buttyhome, on Mon 4 Aug 3:14PM

  9. I feel that Engish cricket has gone back to the time­ when we were not winning anything andnever did look­ like winning anything. Complete clearout needed top to­ bottom start again.Vaughan has gone and the England­ team still looks likea load of old boys looking after­ ther job nomatter how bad they are. KP as captain is a­ massive step backwards. England have dropped the ball­ again.

    From buttyhome, on Mon 4 Aug 3:14PM
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