Can KP be a foot soldier again?

A thought has just occurred to me on the Kevin Pietersen debacle: what sort of foot soldier will he make when he returns to the ranks? I suspect he will be quite a good one.

For all his ego and tantrums, Pietersen has never struck me as the sort of person who has to be captain. He wants England to win and to play a leading role in doing so, but he would be just as happy if that role is played by him with the bat than by rotating bowlers and setting fields. Probably more so. He is comfortable in dealing with the press and being a public figure, but it is not what drives him. Nor, I imagine, would the other off-field functions of captaincy.

Some captains could not cope without being captain. I find it hard to see Ricky Ponting serving under another Australian, nor Graeme Smith being No 2 to AB De Villiers or any other South African. But there are plenty of examples of former captains who have thrived on returning to the ranks. Sachin Tendulkar is one; Shaun Pollock another.

Pietersen exists in his mind to be the greatest batsman there has ever been. He is well up the list but surely KP would not yet be satisfied with what he has achieved as a batsman. He doesn't need the captaincy to make him greater. It does not define him. Back in the ranks he can get on with scoring hundreds and winning matches. He would be hell to captain, of course, but he always has been and at least he respects Andrew Strauss. No doubt that will inspire the selectors to choose Bell as captain then.

Sportsmen divide into Achilleses and Odysseuses. The former sulk if they can't get their own way and refuse to help out if their wishes aren't met. Sometimes they disrupt and divide the rest of the group. The latter may be just as inspiring leaders as any Achilles, but they don't need to be top dog and the greater good is often served by leaving them to their own devices. Geoff Boycott, who wouldn't play for England for three years because they picked someone else as captain, was an Achilles. So was David Gower, who never accepted Graham Gooch's captaincy.

Ian Botham was an Odysseus, freed by losing the captaincy. So was Alec Stewart, who didn't complain when passed over for the captaincy in 1993, but devoted himself to serving England until his time came. I suspect KP could also be a prince of Ithaca.

Comments

[kap]

Of course he will continue. No doubt KP enjoys the perks of being rich and famous and IPL will reward him well but his ego won't let him quit international cricket. He knows he has it in him to break all the records and be recognised alongside Bradman as the best to have ever played the game. His recent behaviour has been foolish but he's not a stupid man so I have no doubt he'll score plenty of runs over the next few years for England. Put money on a 100 next time he walks out for England.