The Kevin Pietersen Show is back in town. It never left, in truth, though it has gone dark sometimes lately as both sides in the shemozzle sought the sanctuary of privacy to try to reach a resolution.
They may or may not be closer to doing so. It depends whose off-the-record briefings, if they exist, you listen to and whose Twitter accounts you follow. But a new sense of urgency has entered proceedings.
Pietersen’s England contract ends on 30 September, after which he is a free agent. He can then do what he jolly well wants and play for whom he jolly well likes (as opposed, of course, to having do as he is told under the terms of the central contract).
Speculation about his intentions will intensify, particularly with regard to the Big Bash, the Australian domestic Twenty20 competition where clubs have made it clear that they would be prepared to pay big bucks.
England’s performances in Sri Lanka are bound to have some influence. As every cross-batted swipe against India last weekend led to disaster his kudos grew, his own travails against spin forgotten.
If England continue to play like clowns, then the mood towards Pietersen may swing further especially if he continues to charm as a TV pundit here. The position of the coach, Andy Flower, will deservedly be scrutinised.
Indeed, on Twitter, Piers Morgan, Pietersen’s most high-profile supporter, said Flower was running a “ridiculous ego-trip campaign against KP”. But Morgan may not be helping.
The twittersphere is still showing around 80 per cent feeling against Pietersen. Everybody knows that England would be a better team with Pietersen in it. But that hardly matters. None of the discussions has been about Pietersen’s ability. He is a good batsman who plays great innings, not a great batsman.
In general, the talks have been about trust. England feel Pietersen breached it and it will not be regained easily, if ever.
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