Pietersen's exit hits England's WCup strategy
Source: Agencies |
March 8, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
OTHER captains have had their fair share of sleepless nights but following Kevin Pietersen's sudden exit, England skipper Andrew Strauss can be forgiven for wondering what he has done to be denied a moment of tranquility.
Sunday's thrilling six-run victory over South Africa had barely sunk in when news filtered in that Pietersen would return home immediately for a hernia treatment. His scores of 39, 31, 59 and 2 may suggest that the towering right-hander, squirming in the makeshift opener's role, had not set the tournament alight.
But his absence does throw England's strategy into disarray, forcing a mid-tournament shake-up which may well do no good to a team chasing its maiden World Cup.
Eoin Morgan will replace Pietersen. The 24-year-old middle-order batsman has played in 38 ODIs in which he has scored 1,160 runs at an average of 40. He was originally picked for England's squad but was forced out because of a broken finger.
Instead of analyzing the strength and weaknesses of their remaining Group B opponents, the English management are instead taxing their brains trying to get the batting order right.
England experimented with the lineup that lost the ODI series in Australia 1-6.
Pietersen was unveiled as an opener at the cost of Matt Prior, who was marked out for the middle overs because of his ability to handle spinners. Pietersen's absence might tempt the team to ask Prior to accompany Strauss at the top, especially with so many teams here opening with spin, while they also could thrust the makeshift opener's role on Ravi Bopara after he shone against South Africa.
Sunday's thrilling six-run victory over South Africa had barely sunk in when news filtered in that Pietersen would return home immediately for a hernia treatment. His scores of 39, 31, 59 and 2 may suggest that the towering right-hander, squirming in the makeshift opener's role, had not set the tournament alight.
But his absence does throw England's strategy into disarray, forcing a mid-tournament shake-up which may well do no good to a team chasing its maiden World Cup.
Eoin Morgan will replace Pietersen. The 24-year-old middle-order batsman has played in 38 ODIs in which he has scored 1,160 runs at an average of 40. He was originally picked for England's squad but was forced out because of a broken finger.
Instead of analyzing the strength and weaknesses of their remaining Group B opponents, the English management are instead taxing their brains trying to get the batting order right.
England experimented with the lineup that lost the ODI series in Australia 1-6.
Pietersen was unveiled as an opener at the cost of Matt Prior, who was marked out for the middle overs because of his ability to handle spinners. Pietersen's absence might tempt the team to ask Prior to accompany Strauss at the top, especially with so many teams here opening with spin, while they also could thrust the makeshift opener's role on Ravi Bopara after he shone against South Africa.
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