KP's Batting and Hair

[Collyisamackem]

http://www.skysports.com/skysports/a...212377,00.html

I agree he is not a slogger, but he needs to improve his concentration at times. He's been debated many times ehre before, but what is your reaction to what KP has had to say here?

[greg]

Sensible quotes.Hope he puts it into practice as he would be a very very good player if he did.

[Colourful Chaddi]

I also agree KP is not a slogger but i don't think he is a good Test batsemen that can play at no.5, his ideal postion with his style of batting would be at no.7. I think England need a good, gritty batsmen like Nasser Hussain or Thorpe to bat at no.5 not KP.

KP's style is too attacking and is in-consistant to be in the England middle order, when England are in a batting collapes I don't think KP could save England. When conditions favour swing and seam KP's technique will surely be exposed and he will be in-effective when going gets tough.

Look at Englands batting order of Trescothick, Strauss, Vaughan, Bell, KP and Freddie. After the opening batsmen Englands batting looks like it could collapes at any moment, its too hot and cold! Michael Vaughan looked like a world class batsmen 3 years ago but right now he looks like an average Test batsmen, Ian Bell is too young and un-experianced but he has the technique to succeed but after that you have KP and Freddie. If these two click they could easily take the game away from the other team but they have an equal chance to fail which is not good for England.

The way KP bats there is a big risk so he should develop another way he can help England if his batting fails. Look at Freddie and Gilchrist they have similar batting styles to Kp but they always have a plan B if their batting fails, Freddie helps with the ball and Gilchrist helps with the glovework in the field.

Kp needs to develop another skill which he can give to England if he fails with the bat. But KP can always change his batting style like Steve Waugh did, who became even more successful after he changed his attacking style for mroe of a gritty style.

[Collyisamackem]

He's only 25 Waseem, give him time. Also, don't be fooled into thinking England's batting is worse than it is. We had a poor three tests in Pakistan yet there were still hundreds for Tresco and our two "inexperienced" batsmen, who posted quite a partnership at Faisalabad.

[Collyisamackem]

The hair has gone!
http://www.cricinfo.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/59200/59279.jpg

What say you to this? I think KP may be trying to improve his image as a dedicated player by getting rid of the hair, and that b) he's running the risk of sunstroke by going to India with that length of hair. Mind, the badger barnet was a little bit silly at times...

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

The hair has gone!
..

Great - now he just has to cut out the loose shot or two and more people in the cricketing world will take him seriously!!

The Ashes series this summer proved that Cricket at it's best does not need gimmicks. Hopefully KP can maintain his place as a charismatic entertainer, without the stupid barnet.

[greg]

Just hope he wears his hat unlike Chris Lewis on that tour to West indies about 10-12 years ago.

[John]

KP is averaging 43 last time I looked. I am certain he is better than Bell and Key.
"Unfortunately" he has set his standards so high in the one dayers anything ordinary from him is deemed a failure. If you can let Freddie off his early failures I am sure a lean patch by KP is forgivable without calling for his head. KP is here to stay as for Bell, Key and Coolingwood???

[Collyisamackem]

KP averages 44, and Bell averaged 46 or 47 on the Pakistan tour. He'll be around for a long time.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by John 89542

If you can let Freddie off his early failures I am sure a lean patch by KP is forgivable without calling for his head.

Don't think any England fan has called for his head-- just thankful that he has got rid of his hair!!

I do feel though that he needs to tighten up his game, he has so much talent, but sometimes you do want to bang his head against a wall!!

Originally Posted by John 89542

KP is here to stay as for Bell, Key and Coolingwood???

I think there are a lot of doubt about Collingwood, and Key is out of favor - but as Colly said about Bell

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

He'll be around for a long time.

And I have to agree, Bell is not as out-going as KP, but he defiantly has a lot of talent, I feel he will be around for years. I do not see why people see KP and Bell are in competition, they are different players and England can accommodate both of them. The threat to KP does not come from Bell, but from Shah and Joyce, either of these two, if they have a good A tour, could step up if one or both of the two players are not playing to their potential.

Which is something that England fans should rejoice in - when you have these two on the bench it is a healthy situation. And I haven't even mention Alistair Cook!!