Nuts for England not to back KP

WHEN faced with clashes of personality with those in charge, England cricket captains have normally put on a brave face.

Mike Atherton springs to mind. When the farrago over the dirt-in-pocket affair broke out in 1994, he was forced to sit in on the humiliating press conference as chairman of selectors Ray Illingworth issued a public reprimand.

With it being the early days of his captaincy, young Athers — no doubt fuming at being hung out to dry — simply knuckled down, got on with the job and went on to enjoy a long stint in the role.

But Kevin Pietersen isn’t a deferential captain. And the simmering feud between him and coach Peter Moores doesn’t appear likely to end in ceasefire.

Moores’ refusal to bring in Michael Vaughan as part of the touring party to the West Indies is reportedly the trigger that led to Pietersen coming out to effectively call for the sacking of his boss.

It illustrates the level of power held by the flamboyant batsman. You can’t imagine many captains of the past trying the same trick — even less so following only three Tests at the helm.

Admittedly, the affair leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, but that shouldn’t disguise the essential fact: Moores leaving would be the best thing to happen to the England cricket team since Pietersen himself sashayed onto the scene.

The former Sussex coach, a political appointment with a politicians’ propensity for spouting meaningless guff following humiliating defeats — no doubt he will seek to once more “take the positives” out of even this desperate situation — has been a disaster and the team has gone backwards under him.

Previous incumbent Duncan Fletcher was less than successful towards the end of his own reign, but that can’t disguise the fact that certain players have, at the very least, stagnated under Moores.

Alistair Cook should by now be the most solid opener in Test cricket, but despite his famed concentration hasn’t kicked on to turn fifties into hundreds in recent times. Ian Bell, arguably the most talented of the top six other than Pietersen, has gone backwards — yet hasn’t had a spell out despite ready-made replacement Owais Shah hammering on the door.

Wishy-washy decisions in other aspects have become Moores’ trademark. The wicketkeeper situation is still unclear after years of turmoil following the removal of Geraint Jones, while nobody seems clear if Steve Harmison is first choice or not any more in the fast bowling stakes.

Ditto Stuart Broad, though in fairness his military medium never looks sufficient to take regular wickets, while buffet-ball specialist James Anderson is a puzzling fixture in the side despite only performing once out of every 10 or so Tests.

And Monty Panesar’s once daring spin bowling has gone completely flat of late for no apparent reason.

Then there’s the selection of Darren Pattinson. Even with hindsight that was an unfathomable move last summer and one which probably cost England the chance of beating South Africa — who are now close to taking over the mantle as number one Test side in the world from Australia.

With a good coach working in tandem with Pietersen, England aren’t all that far away from being candidates for that title.

Already KP looks like he could become a great captain — and with the Ashes round the corner, it is time to give him this instinctive character freedom to do things his way, minus the psycho-babble.

mattchambers@oldham-chronicle.co.uk