Kevin Pietersen- Controversy's beloved child turns 35 today

Kevin Pietersen- Controversy’s beloved child turns 35 today: Swashbuckling, dynamic, controversial, unequivocal and dexterous, there aren’t enough adjectives that suffice the description for the charismatic Kevin Pietersen, who turns 35 today. Pietersen has the habit of hogging the limelight for all the famous and infamous reasons. Destiny has been too tough on the superstar player as he was informed that he was no longer being considered for international selection earlier last year. His outright outspoken demeanor has invited misery for him and the English Cricket Authorities seem to be irked with discomposure at Pietersen’s explicit comments.

One can hobnob with the South African born English cricketer a batting style which is majestic as well as elegant, where class and grace oozes out, coupled with a pastiche of unorthodox element that adds more flavor to his imperious technique.

Reported by ‘The Guardian’ as “England’s greatest modern batsman”, and by ‘The Times’ as the most complete batsman in cricket history, many believed Pietersen was in a league of his own with undiscovered and unmatched potential with a cricket bat wielded between his palms. Kevin became the fastest batsman ever in test cricket to reach 5000 runs, a stat that crosses one’s heart bearing true witness to his batting prowess.

His illustrious career began in 2004 against Zimbabwe when he took the place of Freddy Flintoff who was rested. Pietersen averaged 104 in England’s 4-0 victory. With consistent performances whenever he got the opportunity, he showcased his virtuous batting skills and became the fastest player to reach 1000 and 2000 ODI runs. Many dread the prospect of facing a spinner like Muttiah Muralitharan, but not if you are Kevin Pietersen. He inscribed a brand new dimensional shot in the cricketing book called the switch hit, where a right handed batsman suddenly switches hands and whacks the delivery. He did that against Muttiah Muralitharan to add more glory to it. Now many batsmen have tried to reproduce or replicate the switch hit, a shot that is usually done to mix up and unnerve the field set up of the opposition.

He rose to fame more prominently in 2005 Ashes series.England needed to avoid defeat to regain the Ashes and Pietersen had a humongous responsibility on his shoulders. And he did it what he always does, that is to deliver and helped England regain the Ashes after 17 long years. His seemingly flawless technique, with time, suffered a little fallibility to the left arm spinners and that began to be considered as his Achille’s heel. His form dipped in the subsequent years and to make matters worse, his relationship with English Coach Peters got strained further.

But the rise of the magnetic champion player came in the 2010-11 Ashes series. Pietersen went into the 2010–11 Ashes series without a century since March 2009, and many were skeptical of his temperament. He was also afflicted by an Achilles injury that apparently hindered his running between the wickets. But Pietersen neither fretted nor gave up. In the second Test in Adelaide, where he hit 158 on the previous Ashes tour, KP joined opener Alastair Cook (148) to make a century partnership before going onto to score his 17th Test century. He finished with 227, a Test-best and his second Test double-century, as England declared on 620–5. Given a rare bowl at the end of the fourth day, Pietersen claimed the wicket of Michael Clarke (80) to leave Australia 238–4. England then proceeded to bowl Australia out in the final morning to win by an innings and 71 runs, and Pietersen took the man of match honors with him.

His tantalizing batting technique was a show of its own. He had the ability to play at the highest level in all three formats with no apparent chinks in his batting technique. A strong player through the leg side, KP was brilliant both on front as well as back foot and had an enviable foot work with awesome timing. Pietersen was also a decent right arm off break bowler at the start of his career. But he later sought to concentrate more on his batting and hence he was under used as a bowler.

Pietersen throughout his career broke and made many records. He has the Second-highest run-total from his first 25 Tests (behind Sir Don Bradman). He was also One of only twenty-five players to have a peak ICC batting rating over 900. It is to be noted that out of his 23 international centuries, only one came in losing cause in all other centuries that he hit he ensured that his endeavour was worth of a win for his team. An incomparable asset of the English cricket team and a boon to the cricketing world, with time we very truly hope he will stage a comeback to the England side sorting out all the differences of opinion amicably with the authorities and do what he always does the best-to entertain! Happy birthday KP!