This is my cricketing hero and when I was a young man trying to make my way in the game I was mortified to the point of tears when my beloved Yorkshire first disposed of his captaincy and then his services. Battles raged wars were fought and the mighty club was torn to shreds. I used to think what would my uncles Freddie and Wilf Jakeman think of it for they played cricket in a time when this sort of thing didn't happen.
And so to now and KP. Icon? Yes. Master batsmen? Possibly. Master tactician? Doubtfully. All round excitement? Equalled but never bettered (A couple of old timers called Sir Ian and Sir Viv may wish to take issue with me on this you see).
But is he worthy of an England place and are we all just going a little nuts about it?
Well I think he is. Unless he's committed some dastardly deed like having a dump in Cook's helmet or nicking Goochy's toupee why have they sacked him? Is it his lack of ability? Well that can't be true surely. Is it his lack of runs in Australia? Better sack the whole of the top seven then because Lord Geoffrey could have scored more runs with his stick of rhubarb. So that's not the reason and the real question is will we ever know the reason.
Now conspiracy theorists like my good friend the local Pakistani shopkeeper close to where I sometimes work will have you think of match fixing because of the famous textgate scandal. After all as he says if that happened with a Pakistani player there would be arrests and bans and everything else that follows even with a lack of evidence. Well that I think is far fetched and I don't for one minute believe that KP with his vast wealth would need to do such a thing or indeed with his passion for cricket would want to do such a thing so I think that can be left where it is. A rival to the JKF plot.
Was it about personality clashes? Jeepers I would have never played cricket if it was about that for if you read my blogs you will have come across the story of my dressing room bust up with Barry Wood. As a psychologist I will tell you that bad management leads to personality clashes within a team not strong wills or opinions.
So what was it? Is Downton right to talk about rebuilding for the future? Because if that is the case anyone over 30 needs to go too so Jimmy you may be one of the finest bowlers on the planet but hey you'd better pack your bags buddy!
Personally I think it's the establishment factor playing it's brutal hand again. KP was simply too big for them and essentially the hammering England took in Australia simply meant that high profile heads had to roll. It was never going to be Cook for he is the Captain, and he is young, and he is a yes man to the establishment. No it had to be the easy scapegoat the one who once dared to wear the England cap with a Mohawk, and a blue one at that. That is the reason KP is not establishment and therefor he was the easy fish to shoot.
So honestly this really is nuts but KP we've seen it all before buddy and the establishment always wins. It is a poorer day for cricket but life goes on. May I say thank you sir for entertaining us and may you and your family enjoy everything that life brings you.
