Pietersen's smashing start

[Beny]

So tell me again who is keeping this guy out of the test team? I know that it's unfair to compare ODI form to Test form but from what I understand this guy could very eaisily take Key's place...? Am I wrong or is this guy just getting the raw end of the deal?

[Notts Exile]

Paul Allott said on SKY that he would move someone out of the way just to get him in the Test side. He's good, very good. Come the Test Matches he won't be playing so much leg-side stuff, that's just a tactice he uses in one-day matches. He could take Thorpe or Vaughan's places.

[Lee Johnson]

Yesterday was the first time this series i had enough time to really watch his entire innings and he played differently to the way i've seen him bat before. The couple of times i've seen him in county cricket he still had a leg side preference but not such a pronounced step accross the stumps. This tactic looked safer than the constant glides to 3rd man that always seem to result in giving catching practice to the keeper. In fact he only played one of these shots in his 75, and was the only england Batsmen not to look in any trouble. KP seems to have a plan and unlike most of our batsmen in ODI's seems to have the ability to put the plan into action.

I hope England give him a chance in the tests against Bangladesh, i know its not a true indicator of class playing Bangladesh but at least it will show how his technique differs in the longer form of the game.

[Trescothick]

We can definetly afford to drop Key in place of Pieterson.. Like someone said on TalkSport we need that something a bit special to beat Australia and we all know he can provide that...

[Seamer]

Pieterson has scored more than 5000 first class runs at an average of 54. The only way to play the Aussies is to take the fight to them. Pieterson is the man, not Key. Why is Key even in the side - he is absolutely hopeless and the Aussies will chew him up and spit him out. I am sure most English agree because i have bagged him many times on this forum and NOBODY has even raised a semblance of defence for him.

[Essex Eagle]

Interestingly ive read on other forums people saying that he hits across to leg all the time and would be found out at test level!

I studied his technique closely during his 75..... and the one thing he does when hitting balls on the stumps to leg is to hit them with a straight bat (unlike Key last test vs Pollock)

Wasnt that impressed with the way he kept trying to sweep Boje...... because normally i understand he likes to use his feet and hit down the ground

[Kirsty Harris]

The only place up for grabs in the batting line up at present is the no.3 slot, which is already being battled for by Bell, Key and Butcher.

Pieterson looks a good player, but he will have to wait his turn - I think Thorpe is likely to retire after the Ashes, so that could be his chance, as I think he would fit in better in the middle order in test matches. There is NO WAY that England should even THINK about leaving out Thorpe before the Ashes - we need his stable, soild approach to the game.

Besides which, yes, Pieterson has had a good start to his ODI career, but it does not follow that he will immediately do the same in test matches.

[Notts Exile]

Let's leave Vaughan out then !!!

KP for captain !!!! :-)

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

KP for captain !!!! :-)

Yikes!!! His first act as Captin would be to force all the side to have a mullet haircut and have some disguisting highlights in their hair!!!

[Notts Exile]

Personally I would make a place for KP against the Aussies. I suspect not everyone would join me!