‘Fans shouldn’t boo KP’
1 Dec 2009
England coach Andy Flower has called on South Africans to stop booing Kevin Pietersen.
Pietersen received a hostile welcome in his first England tour to South Africa five years ago, and little has changed in the start to this series. Zimbabwean Flower believes it doesn’t influence his play, but called on the fans to stop.
‘I think he is used to the sort of reaction he’s getting from the crowd to be honest and I don’t think it affects him,’ said Flower. ‘But to me it is really disappointing to hear the boos he’s getting.
‘I didn’t like hearing the boos when [Ricky] Ponting walked out to bat in the summer, I don’t like hearing boos when someone is taking a conversion in rugby and I don’t like hearing this crowd booing a great cricketer when he is going out to compete for his country.’
Pietersen has received much jeering, but South African-born Jonathan Trott hasn’t.
‘There is a bit of the pantomime villain about KP out here and he’s higher profile than Jonathan Trott so that plays a part, but I just think it is sad.’
72 Comments
1 Dec 2009, 12:53 pm
After how KP was treated in SA cricket he doesn’t deserve to be booed.
Rather the selections and quota system that saw this great talent leave our shores.
He would have strengthened our side a lot !!!
1 Dec 2009, 12:57 pm
@Blouste: Nonsense. He was an unknown when he left. Go look at his average (batting & bowling) when he left for Eng. Mediocre at best. Was considered more of a bowler.
No-one could have known he would turn out to be such a good batsmen.
1 Dec 2009, 13:01 pm
@Dantalian:
I can’t argue with whatever his averages etc was…but he was dropped for a quota player and even if he still wasn’t up to his full potential, surely he didn’t turn into the best batsman in the world overnight…???
They should at least have been better with talent spotting, so I don’t share your sentiment.
1 Dec 2009, 13:03 pm
Rather tell me with whom he was replaced and where that individual is in his career now…
I’m one for merit selections…period, even if it means we field a “all black” team.
Not for this political bullshit !!!
1 Dec 2009, 13:05 pm
@Blouste: Pietersen debuted for the Natal ‘B’ side in 1997/98. By the end of the 1999/2000 season, he had scored 222 runs from 13 innings (average of 20.18) and taken 20 wickets at an average of 30.8 runs per wicket. Of these, only three matches were for the ‘A’ side.
He is the one in a million who make it. Good for him I say. But blaming SA cricket/Natal cricket for not picking him at the time is a bit of a stretch imo.
1 Dec 2009, 13:09 pm
@Dantalian:
Look I’m to lazy to go and search some more stats but I’m sure those dont compare to badly to some of the other okes that were given more chance to prove themselves and find themselves at the top right now.
In any case I don’t think the fans have anything to boo him about ala Rattlebones, who were at the top and left…
1 Dec 2009, 13:14 pm
@Blouste: He had the option to stay and fight for a place, but chose to go to Eng. Which meant he couldn’t respresent Natal.
Plus he certainly did himself no favours with some of his comments about SA after being picked for Eng. Tried a bit too hard to nbe a pom when he is clearly not.
But he made a success of it, and hats off to him for that.
Love watching him bat when he’s on fire. But not against SA.
1 Dec 2009, 13:14 pm
@Blouste: Ja. Like Boucher right?, or Neil Mackenzie?
1 Dec 2009, 13:16 pm
@Blouste: Or who exactly were you referring to.
1 Dec 2009, 13:17 pm
@Blouste: Ok. He is replaced by Neil MacKenzie say. What do you say now.
1 Dec 2009, 13:17 pm
@rossoneri:
Basicly just in general….
1 Dec 2009, 13:18 pm
Pietersen was 20 when he left SA and up to that point had done nothing special in terms of his cricket. No-one forced him to go.
1 Dec 2009, 13:19 pm
@rossoneri:
You are missing the point buddy, it’s not about colour but about a merit selection.
Choose the best…
1 Dec 2009, 13:21 pm
@Blouste: No buddy. Read your first racist post and come say that nonsense to me again.
“1. Blouste :
December 1st, 2009 at 12:53 pm
After how KP was treated in SA cricket he doesn’t deserve to be booed.
Rather the selections and quota system that saw this great talent leave our shores.
He would have strengthened our side a lot !!!”
1 Dec 2009, 13:21 pm
@Dantalian:
Like I said, I’ve got no prove but then a finger probably have to be pointed in the talent scouts diretion.
Surely they should have seen sighns of what was possible to come….
1 Dec 2009, 13:22 pm
@Blouste: Exactly, and at the time Pietersen was nowhere near the best. ‘Quota’ or no ‘quota’.
1 Dec 2009, 13:24 pm
@rossoneri:
So now not being for quota selections makes me a racist…please.
Go beat another drum . I’m not interested in your futile accusations or interpretations.
1 Dec 2009, 13:25 pm
@Dantalian:
Then point taken.
Fact is he should propably have been looked after better.
1 Dec 2009, 13:28 pm
@Dantalian:
When say Herchelle doesn’t perform he gets dropped, wich is right.But he also gets told what to fix and that he is still in the equation should he work on that.
I just doubt this is how KP was handled, hence leaving so easily…
1 Dec 2009, 13:33 pm
I just find it very difficult to believe that you are complete bollocks and then in a season or two on, your the best in the world…
Surely great students of the game should at least have identified the talent and worked on it.
1 Dec 2009, 13:35 pm
He is only booed because of his attitude and his arrogant persona.
Not because he left when he was struggling to make the Natal B side…
1 Dec 2009, 13:36 pm
Who at twenty is a fully blooded champion cricketer. At that age selectors and management should be looking at talent and technique not necesarily stats.
Blouste has a point if sa cricket dropped him because of stats then he was mistreated or quotarised.
You develop on talent at that age!
1 Dec 2009, 13:38 pm
@WP_:
The aussie cricket team called KP “FIGJAM”. This is because of his arrogance.
1 Dec 2009, 13:41 pm
The story goes that KP and Gulam Bodi were both vying for a contract for the senior squad. Both similar players at that stage…
Bodi got the contract, KP though he was a better player (which was debateable at the time). KP blamed the quota system – had a point? and decided to try his luck elsewhere… (england)
1 Dec 2009, 13:43 pm
@wallabie.: Well exactly! That’s typical KP!
1 Dec 2009, 13:45 pm
@WP_:
Well I believe KP proved himself…. as for Gulam…well, makes you think hey…
1 Dec 2009, 13:47 pm
@Blouste: KP could have stayed. He was offered a contract at Nottinghamshire (or wherever) and part of the deal was that he could not be counted as an overseas player. Which meant he could not play for Natal. So he made the choice. And it worked out for him. No-one’s fault. Just the way the dice fell.
1 Dec 2009, 13:48 pm
@Blouste: Ya well, if you look at the way they turned out… Casts a bad light on certain previous political interference and systems..
1 Dec 2009, 13:49 pm
@Blouste: And Clive Rice indentified KP’s talent and told him to leave. Rice was the coach at the county which offered KP the initial contract. You win some you lose some.
1 Dec 2009, 13:50 pm
@WP_:
Cant blame a player who is not scared to back himself.
He had belief in himself and tested the waters elsewhere and now he gets paid heaps more than what he thought he was worth.
1 Dec 2009, 13:51 pm
@Dantalian: Exactly, he could have stayed, and I reckon he should have. If he had any balls, he would have stayed and fought for his place properly.
If he was good enough, which he has shown he is, then he would have made it eventually, but he left the country at about 21 or 22 (not sure?).
Np patience. Look at a gut like Alviro Petersen, breaking into the said at 29, and look how well he’s doing…
1 Dec 2009, 13:52 pm
@Dantalian:
Exactly, doesn’t it raise questions why Clive identified him but he was skipped in SA.
That sort of prove my point, Clive being an ex Test player and all.
Weren’t there agendas behind him looked over for a more “appropiate player” in Sa ?
1 Dec 2009, 13:53 pm
@wallabie.: No you’re right. If you dont back yourself than who will?
I like that. But there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. And getting up people’s noses.
1 Dec 2009, 13:55 pm
breaking into a side at 29 is tough when one could do so at 25. few more years earning the big bucks.
1 Dec 2009, 13:55 pm
@Blouste:
“but he was dropped for a quota player”
Natal was in need of an opening batsman at the time. They found that Indian guy (can’t remember his name at the moment) who was an opener and could also bowl some spin. KP at that stage saw hiself as a spinner, who could bat a bit. Therefore he was selected ahead of KP.
As you can see from his record in post 5, he only played Natal B therefore your claim that he was dropped for a quota player is false.
Most cricketers, from all over the world, who go to England improve their game manifold. It has to do with the fact that you play on a more regular basis (nearly everyday) against top quality players from around the world.
1 Dec 2009, 13:57 pm
@WP_:
Too true.
I have no idea where KP got his arrogance but its so bad to the extent the aussies called him FIGJAM…”f**k I’m Good Just Ask Me”.
1 Dec 2009, 13:57 pm
@WP_:
Looke I’m not opposed to somebody sticking around and fighting for his place or proving himself.
It’s just that when a message have been given to you and you maybe think that whatever you do might not make a difference, that sort off makes you negative and you go to where you think you’ll get a fair chance.
1 Dec 2009, 13:59 pm
@Blouste: No-one could possibly have predicted things to turn out like they did.
There was nothing to suggest KP was all that special. Schools cricket included.
Clive took a educated guess/gamble and it paid off.
1 Dec 2009, 14:01 pm
@nama1:
Point taken…
See my other posts regarding someone missing out on the talent spotting then.
Why did Clive rate him to go and play for a good English club as you said with top players if he couldn’t make the Natal B side?
Someone or some system farked up big time somewhere…
1 Dec 2009, 14:03 pm
@nama1: Gulam Bodi, was more of a spinner in those days…
He was picked in the SA U-19 side (if i’m not mistaken) actually as a spinner…
Hence similar players…
1 Dec 2009, 14:04 pm
@WP_: Agree. If he stuck it out he would have made it. No doubt.
1 Dec 2009, 14:06 pm
@Dantalian:
Well I suppose if Clive could answer that question we would have a better idea…
Unfortunately this happes in school sports aswell, so no real token to go by.
Fact remains for me, he turned out to be the best, surely that sould have been identified.
Question still remains, why wasn’t it identified in our country – but by one of our country’s great players overseas…
It raises questions, no matter what angle you take on it…
1 Dec 2009, 14:07 pm
@Blouste: What message Blouste. Say the words of the message that was given.
1 Dec 2009, 14:08 pm
@wallabie.: hehe, I knew what FIGJAM stood for. F”king funny…
@Blouste: Yeah, but I reckon you gotta take the rough with the smooth, you;ll hit setbacks along the way… But what does it say about you when you just up and leave after the first little sppedbump?
Not much…
1 Dec 2009, 14:11 pm
@Dantalian: Yup exactly.
1 Dec 2009, 14:12 pm
I still dont see it necessary to boo him, the negative things he said might be merited ( he knows the truth about how he was handled ) we don’t.
I’m just saying an incident like the one where F du P was dropped for Ricky just to make up quota numbers are not right and not the solution ( mentioned in John Smit’s book )
It make players negative in both ways and are detrimental to our country’s sport…
1 Dec 2009, 14:17 pm
@Blouste: KP is the exception to the rule. Everybody did what they thought was the best/right thing at the time.
I don’t blame KP and I don’t blame any of the unions involved.
1 Dec 2009, 14:18 pm
@rossoneri:
Figuratively speaking boet.
Like the was it Nel – Langeveld saga when you get dropped for a player that’s not performing aswell as you.
It’s a slap in the face for both players in its not the right message !!!
We lost both players.
Do you think that is right?
This happens and are not right, also look at situation I mentioned in post 46
I ask again, do you think this is the way forward?
Merit selections are the way to go…
1 Dec 2009, 14:21 pm
@Dantalian:
It could be, there are just to many things like this happening, see post 46 to make me think it was a mere exception…hence his reaction and attitude towards it
1 Dec 2009, 14:30 pm
@Blouste: I dunno. Maybe we’ll find out when he writes his 5th book.
1 Dec 2009, 14:39 pm
@Dantalian:
maybe , who knows…
1 Dec 2009, 14:46 pm
@Blouste: 39
I absolutely agree regarding (mis)identification of talent. It already starts at schoolboy level where clearly talented players are left out of teams in favour of the rich okes kid or my drinking buddy’s kid.
We had a situation a few years back where a Nuffield player who moved from Cape Town to Springbok was not selected for the Griqua team because the selectors stuck to the players they knew (read white players) although he was the best bowler at the trials. When they heard afterwards that the former Capie played in the Nuffield week for WP the previous year, they then wanted to include him.
@WP_:
I’ll take your word for it. He did however open for Natal
1 Dec 2009, 14:53 pm
@Blouste: 39
I absolutely agree regarding (mis)identification of talent. It already starts at schoolboy level where clearly talented players are left out of teams in favour of the rich okes kid or my drinking buddy’s kid.
We had a situation a few years back where a Nuffield player who moved from Cape Town to Springbok was not selected for the Griqua team because the selectors stuck to the players they knew (read white players) although he was the best bowler at the trials. When they heard afterwards that the former Capie played in the Nuffield week for WP the previous year, they then wanted to include him.
His father told them what they could do with their late selection.
@WP_:
I’ll take your word for it. He did however open for Natal
1 Dec 2009, 14:56 pm
What’s this double posting? Sorry.
1 Dec 2009, 15:06 pm
I don’t agree or disagree with the aforementioned posts since you all have valid points. One has to understand though that players at 20/21 are not fully developed and all they have is raw talent, well , unless your surname is Tendulkar!!!!
The Natal selectors made what they thought was the right choice at the time. Hindsight is a *****, yes, but that’s life. How could Marseille let Henry slip through their fingers? Barcelona must be shitting themselves now that Fabregas has made a name for himself. At the end of the day one has to decide who has the better chance of progressing and this one time the selectors got it wrong.
KP obviously knew that he had the ability but felt that he was not getting a crack at the first team. Wrongly or wrightly he felt that quotas kept him out of the team and went to England, like many cricketers have before him. Hell, even I went to play in England after making the Province under 19 team nearly 20 years ago. Luckily for him, he made his mark and the rest is history. However, what pissed off most Saffas was the way he shredded SA when he made the England team and blamed his non-selection on the quota system. This is what pissed off the SA cricket team as well because guys like Smith, AB and the Morkels, Klusner, Kemp, etc had come through the same structures as him. His fake English accent also seriously pissed people off, ditto his arrogance at the time. He has really matured as a person though and he is fantastic to watch. He admitted himself that he was a bit of a ****, which really speaks volumes for him. Also, the SA team has also opened up to him which is great to see. The booing I think is all done in jest by most supporters. Watch closely and you will see the smiles on the peoples faces (and KP’s) when he does some boundary fielding.
Yes, he would have been a great asset to SA. But then again, maybe Amla, JP or AB would not have been where they are today if he had been around.
Cheers guys….I really like chatting on the cricket thread, much more positive comments than the rugby threads.
1 Dec 2009, 15:42 pm
Bodi only concerntrated on his batting when he leg spin bowling went south… Which was a few years after…
Agree Golden Boy. The cricket chat is enjoyable and the okes are more knowledgeable…
1 Dec 2009, 16:20 pm
i dont believe KP would have made the protea side…neither would AS…never mind captaining the side.
there are many a great cricketer in this country that does not rise to the top.when was the last player from a really obscure little villiage in the middel of nowhere to play top cricket for sa…apart from the mdingi express?
going to right school,does help an awefull lot.u get spotted so much quicker when u play for a top school.
anyways,i do believe that in cricket a team can not carry a bad player.although its a team sport,u bat alone,bowl alone,and u field alone.
if there is a player that is unfairly selected,he will be found wanting sooner than later,irrispective of his background
1 Dec 2009, 16:25 pm
as for the boo-ing of KP,i know that he’s not the same punk that got selected for the poms a long time ago,but he made such a fuss about what he did not want to be(being saffa at heart),that in mho,he must just deal with all the banter.
although peter siddle is not ex saffa,he will always get a hostile crowd touring this country.
1 Dec 2009, 17:10 pm
People don’t boo him because he left SA, they boo him because he’s an idiot. Going back to his original claim that he left because of afirmative action, even though he was averaging around 10 with that bat….
On another note – how long before there isn’t a single home-grown Pom in the team? They are already nearly half the team:
Strauss (South Africa)
Trott (South Africa)
Pietersen (South Africa)
Prior (South Africa)
Morgan (Ireland)
1 Dec 2009, 17:22 pm
@chappy: Hopefully our South Africans will be better than their South Africans.
1 Dec 2009, 17:23 pm
Panesar was born in India if I’m not mistaken, and Sajid Mahmood Pakistan…
1 Dec 2009, 17:26 pm
Dantalian
Well, already our Petersen is better than their Pieterson!
1 Dec 2009, 17:29 pm
@WP_:
1 Dec 2009, 17:51 pm
nobody boos trott because trottyis a decent guy who has kept his trap shut…had kp done the same it would have been easier on him..
that said kp has calmed down a great deal…hell we might even like him soon…
1 Dec 2009, 17:59 pm
KP IS A ****! Boo the b@stard till he remembers his South african eksent.
1 Dec 2009, 20:46 pm
@Slappes:
:smilie:
2 Dec 2009, 00:06 am
Ya, one thing . despise is KP’s fake pommie accent. I mean please. He started putting it on as soon as he got there. It’s quite pathetic.
Mike Catt, who’s been in England for about 16 odd years still has no trace of a pommie twang, yet KP acts like a twat and manufactures one.
Luckily Trott hasnt.
2 Dec 2009, 01:23 am
We are just days away from the biggest show South Africa has yet pulled but not a single word on it on this site. Be patriotic keo and cut and paste a story on the world cup draw.
2 Dec 2009, 01:29 am
Oh and I played against KP in high school he ws ****. Never made an impact. I laughed when he complained about quotas considering he got to play above many deserving guys. It was never about his color he jus was not up to scratch. Sad that he saw fit to say wat he said.
2 Dec 2009, 08:45 am
Did he styled his old hairstyle on you skunk?
2 Dec 2009, 15:19 pm
I think booing should stop in all sport. Just look how great it was in Croke Park? Not one sound when a penalty was taken. The way it should be.
Saying that I don’t like KP much but maybe it is time to stop booing him. He has left here now years ago.
3 Dec 2009, 05:13 am
Who is this dude to tell paying spectators not to boo? We’ll boo whoever we want. We just don’t like the guy thats all, KP learned his cricket in this country and went to play for England. No problem there. The sh*t hit the fan when he decided to diss our cricketing structures, which are admitedly not perfect, but they work for us.
Whenever you hear boos when KP walks out to the middle thats me.
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