Has Kevin Pietersen Cost England The Test Series?

Kevin Pietersen is undoubtedly one of the world's top batsmen, among the top 5 of the ICC world rankings. However today he showed just how arrogant and daft he can be. Thus why he will never be able to captain the England test team.

With England leading by just 136, they're four wickets down in their second innings against South Africa in the 3rd Test at Edgbaston. Pietersen is on 94 and Paul Collingwood is finding form passing 50. Pietersen played a number of arrogant and “in your face” shots, but then that’s how he plays. As the partnership between the two batsmen was approaching 100, England looked to be in a comfortable position.

However the impatience and immaturity of Kevin Pietersen proved me and many others wrong as he went for a huge slog over mid-on, that was completely unnecessary and completely forgetting about his partner and his team, in order to reach his 100 with a 6 in style.

Well he didn’t look so stylish walking back to the dressing room, shouting and screaming at himself for his poor shot-selection.

Sometimes in sports, Kevin, you just have to play it safe for a while and take a conservative approach to the game, especially when you’re staring down the barrel of defeat, as England were.

Luckily, the gritty play of Paul Collingwood earned him a well deserved century, finishing the day not out on 101 and helping England to a lead of 214, with four wickets still intact.

Just think if Pietersen had played his way to 100 instead of trying to force the issue and impose himself on the South Africans. As if he hadn’t done it already with his criticism of Proteas skipper Graeme Smith.

England would be in a very commanding position if not for the unnecessary wicket of ‘KP’ with a lead of around 250+ and the big hitting Freddie Flintoff to come. What would the South African bowling attack be thinking if that were the case?

South Africa would have to have a nightmare if they were to lose this game, but the brave efforts of Paul Collingwood, a player under question for his place in the side at the start of this test may find a way to salvage something from this match.

Props must go to South Africa for their tactics as they made Pietersen believe he was invincible as he continued to hit 4’s and ‘Switch hitting’, but it’s the South Africans who have the last laugh now at the expense of their own natives.