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Ern

There's no I in Pietersen, oh wait there is and that is the reason why he should never be captain of such a great cricketing nation like England. Just because he is the best batsman or the best player doesnt mean that he should be captain.

Reasons why he should never be captain

1. He is South African, England should have an English captain!!!
2. He seems to act like he is bigger than the English cricket team
3. Too much pressure could ruin his batting
4. I don't think he has the cricketing brain of a Vaughan, Ponting, Fleming or Strauss!!!

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

Please God no, anything but that!

Unfortunately we wouldn't know until he actually was captain. For all we know, he could be the next Lara - better batsman with the captaincy, but drags the team through the mire and England end up 6th or 7th best in the world.

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"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose."
- Ayrton Senna

1. Wasn't Nasser Hussain born in India?

Wel, actually he acts like he's bigger than cricket...

Lets put this in perspective. I think he does not have the cricketing brain of a Graeme Smith! (And that says a lot )

Quite right.

We could name quite a few non-English born skippers. Don't think that would be held against him, I think the fact he does not seem to have the leadership potential of other candidates would be the major problem.

Has he ever Captained at County Level? I don't think so....

I am not convinced by the assumption that the best player makes the best captain... There are so many examples where this hasn't worked - Tendulkar, Warne (would have been a good captain on the field - his problems were off it), Shaun Pollock, Botham, Flintoff....etc

One of the parts of the Schofield report that I loved was that the England team would develop the leadership potential of younger players and develop them for the future, I would hope that Vaughan would stay in charge for three to four years, and then you would see the emergence of someone like Cook, who at 25 would be an ideal age to skipper the side long term.

Do you know what, I actually flirted with putting that in my last post!
No, Pietersen's record as a captain is one solitary second eleven Trophy fixture for Nottinghamshire. He scored a century as Notts won, for what it's worth.

Warne sometimes lets his temprement get the better of him, especially when he thinks the other side should declare - he ended up bowling lobs against Middlesex at the tail end of last season, then managed to make an over against Kent a few weeks ago last nearly 10 minutes to force Rob Key (a notoriously cautious declarer) into taking the hint. What worries me is if KP takes too close a captaincy style to Warne - he's a bit too adventureous sometimes!

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"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose."
- Ayrton Senna

I think some of you are mystifying captaincy. Firstly what makes a side are quality players. Tendulkar would still be the same player under a good capitain or bad captain. Andre Nel wouldn't become a great bowler under a good captain.
If Pietersen is made captain and he is poor you sack him its as simple as that. The reason to make him captain is now he has played around three years international cricket where he has been a resounding success.
There is no proof he thinks he is bigger than English cricket. If he does why has he done so well?
What I want is evidence! Various people said Thorpe wasn't a team man. Where has any English player or coaching staff said Pietersen is no team player. Yes he may have his own opinions but that does not mean he is not a team player.

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"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

I've no objections to Pietersen. I don't care about his nationality. I'm a LITTLE peturbed by what seemed at the time to be an unwillingness to fit in at Notts (but not seriously, as he was younger then). I'm also not doubting that with the right coach at the helm... he could do a passable job.

The thing is.. England have, in guys like Vaughan, Strauss, Bell, Collingwood, Joyce, Cook and others... far, FAR more promising captains. If the alternatives were Flintoff, Prior or Mahmood then sure, Pietersen would be appealing.. but he faces some VERY stiff competition... and just ain't anywhere near top of the heap!

I think from an outsiders point of view..the most logical solution to the English Captaincy is one Alaister Cook...only 22 has a good future ahead of him appears to be favour with selectors and has the right attitude at this point...There have been many successful "non" english Captains but why not have an Englishman Captain England?

I thought Nasser Hussain was the first and only ever England captain of mixed ethnicity? - Or am i wrong?