For Piet’s Sake

Time and again we are reassured by cricket analysts that Kevin Pietersen is the most gifted batsman in the England test side. It’s a fact few can dispute when they see highlights of KP at his best. From textbook to audacious, the South African born 30-year-old has the ability to dazzle and the skill to become one of the greats.

Unfortunately he won’t ever reach the standards he could and probably should do though. Plagued by an arrogance that lost him his captaincy, Pietersen’s ego somehow doesn’t quite fit in with Andrew Strauss’ team ethos.

Whether it is Pietersen’s literal Achilles heel which dogs him from a consistent spell at batting at County level or his metaphoric Achilles heel of regularly being dismissed by slow left arm bowlers, he is a player desperately short of form and, ultimately, ideas.

Today at Lords with just two runs to his name and facing the fast pace of the inexperienced Sri Lankan bowler Suranga Lakmal, he wielded his bat angrily at a wide delivery outside his off stump and gave the visitors captain Tilekeratne Dilshan 'a dolly' at Gully.

His career has meandered alarmingly since almost single handedly helping England win the 2009 Twenty20 world cup in the West Indies where his man of the tournament accolade was richly deserved.

Barring a wonderful Ashes knock of 227 against the Aussies in Adelaide exactly six months ago, England’s number four has only managed to surpass the 50-run mark in one of his last eleven outings at the crease in test matches.

This pivotal summer gives the chance for the Surrey batsman to prove critics wrong and show that 'class' is an applicable and permanent adjective he is worthy of.