 | ‘Pietersen’s head turned by IPL’
23 August 2012
|
| 
LONDON: England coach Andy Flower insists Kevin Pietersen’s infatuation with the Indian Premier League (IPL) played a significant role in the collapse of his international career.
The former Zimbabwe wicket-keeper said Pietersen, dropped for the third Test and left out of England’s World Twenty20 squad, stopped focusing after his lucrative spell playing domestic cricket in India. Flower is certain Pietersen’s availability for the cash-rich tournament is at the heart of the current problems and could herald the end of the batsman’s career.
“I think it’s fair to say that his issues over being available for the entire IPL have changed his attitude,” said Flower. “I think that was the catalyst for a lot of the stuff. The IPL and the international fixtures in England are an area of conflict. And it will continue to be an area of conflict in the future.”
Wants Pietersen to reveal text contents
Meanwhile, Flower believes the batsman must reveal the content of his controversial text messages if he wants to salvage his career.
Pietersen was left out of the side that lost their world number one Test ranking to the Proteas with a 51-run loss at Lord’s on Monday after sending what he admitted were ‘provocative’ texts to South African players. It has been alleged the texts contained derogatory remarks about Andrew Strauss and advised the opposition on how to dismiss the England Test captain.
“There are a number of outstanding issues to be resolved.
“An example of that would be finding out exactly what these text messages contained, if we do really want to move forward either way. I think it’s always nice to have a large element of up-front honesty.” | | See Also in Sports News
|
|  We'll have to give Ajmal the respect he deserves: Kevin O'Brien
23 May 2013
KARACHI : While admitting that facing Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal will be “tricky”, Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien said that his team have no particular strategy planned out to tackle “one of the best spinners in the world”.
Speaking to PakPassion.net, Ireland’s vice-captain said that he and his team mates were looking forward to the two One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Pakistan to prove their mettle.
“It'll be a great chance for me personally and for the team to show what we can do again.
“I ... Full Story |  New Zealand's Watling out of second Test
23 May 2013
LEEDS: New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling was ruled out Wednesday of the second and final Test against England at Headingley starting Friday.
Watling injured his knee during New Zealand's 170-run first Test defeat at Lord's last week.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who deputised behind the stumps at Lord's, will keep at Headingley with Martin Guptill coming into the team to bat at number six, a Black Caps statement issued Wednesday said.
Meanwhile former captain Daniel Vettori, ... Full Story |  Dortmund’s Goetze ruled out of Wembley final
23 May 2013
BERLIN: A hamstring injury has ruled Borussia Dortmund’s Germany midfield star Mario Goetze out of Saturday’s Champions League final at Wembley against Bayern Munich — the club he will join next month after actioning a release clause in his contract.
Goezte, 20, tore his right hamstring in Dortmund’s semi-final return leg at Real Madrid on April 30 and the attacking midfielder only managed an hour of training with the Borussia team on Tuesday before suffering a reaction, which has ruled him ... Full Story | |
|
|
|
