Pitiful Pietersen excuse ends six-year mediocre Hants stay

“Geographically it just doesn’t work- I live in Chelsea” was the curious answer England’s premier batsman Kevin Pietersen gave to journalists when quizzed about his future at county club Hampshire after his only appearance for the Royals this term.

This signalled the beginning of the end for Pietersen as far as his six-year Hampshire tenure goes, with sure enough the South African born player’s agent confirming his exit from the club this week when his current deal expires at the end of the season.

Pietersen’s stark determination to play in London makes his next port of a call a simple choice of two: Middlesex or Surrey. With the batter now settled in Chelsea with a young family, it’s down to who is willing to front up the cash to land the 29 year old whose availability through international commitments will be extremely limited for county cricket. Not since 2005 has Pietersen played a championship match at the Rose Bowl, with Sunday’s rare Twenty20 run-out being his first in Hampshire colours for two years.


Kevin Pietersen (centre) ducks to avoid a vociferous bouncer from Surrey’s Chris Tremlett in possibly what is his last appearance in a Hampshire shirt.

The ECB’s policy of releasing players is one that continues to frustrate county bosses as Hampshire Club Chairman Rod Bransgrove has found out in recent years. He added: "The ECB's policy of releasing players for their counties is quite opaque and I don't understand it."

Pietersen’s reasons for leaving Hampshire though make unpleasant reading for many. The England player’s time at the south coast outfit has not been success ridden and one feels how a quick trip along the M3 can cause wholesale inconvenience, especially as it is usually only once a season at best he has to make the journey to the Rose Bowl. The ego of Pietersen is supported by his star quality but sometimes the arrogance of the man creates a feeling of discontent towards his character.

Despite, a London stay in the offing for Pietersen, a role as a freelance cricketer should not be ruled out for a player worth millions on the Indian market. The flamboyant batter may have been the key figure in England’s successful Twenty20 triumph in the West Indies but it is Pietersen’s next six months or so in Test cricket which could define his status in the world game.

With a current Test Match batting average at just a shade under 50, Pietersen needs to have a big winter down under against Australia to be compared with the mark of consistency incumbent batting greats like Ricky Ponting, Graeme Smith and Sachin Tendulker share.