KP & the Hob Nobs

Sydney Thunder 106/8 lost to Melbourne Stars 107/2 from 14.3 overs

Saturday 17 January 2015

Spotless Stadium Sydney

Big Bash T20 Cricket

Twitter @ball_sup

It's an odd thing this Blogging ain't it. Here I am. Time on my hands. Out there doing stuff. Ranty opinionated. Yet, unless I impose some discipline, all hell will be let loose. Winding my neck in over the Ched Evans thing took some willpower. And I waited until I saw England play before I had a go at the Alastair Cook thing.

So here goes. Any excuse. It's time for KP.

Kevin Pietersen lined up for Melbourne Stars over at Spotless. I so so wish it had ended differently. He said, they said, nonsense.

Some of my great great days watching England cricket had KP out there in the middle. But, I recall the thrill, the elation of what the team did. Winning the Ashes out here in Aus in 2010/11. Coming back from one down to take the series in India 2-1.

It's not in my nature to particularly recall individual petformances. Save for KP getting Clarke out late on Day 4 at Adelaide. But KP won't see that as his legacy. I'll remember him as part of those teams. Just that.

Pietersen is becoming very popular down here in Aus. Some fella at the PMs XI game at Manuka said to me; "now we see KP on the TV & Big Bash, we realise he's a great guy".

Stereotypically, there's the rub. He appeals more to that legends of the game, Big Bash "mentality". No right, No wrong. He's (large) niche.

I always go to the small things. Some I've seen with my own eyes. A rooky Joe Root (who wasn't in the side) searching KP out & celebrating with him on the pitch at Eden Gardens. KP, on one of his rare appearances in County Cricket, happily exchanging views & banter with the Lower North East Standers at Headingley. KP (& the others) sharing smiles & pleasantries with all & sundry in the Departure lounge in Nagpur after clinching the series in India.

KP being really arsey with the NZ team security guard because a 9 year old was nipping in to use the team water fountain in Queenstown v New Zealand A. KP in a ridiculous argument with a WA Swan Lager addled Buffoon over the players balcony at the WACA.

The most damming thing I'll say about him is - he doesn't seem to be just one person.  He's a Chameleon. Even his idioms are Down Under - "How ya going Champ".

Forget the hype. Two "parties" fall out. Both are partly to blame. End of.

Lots of my Civilian mates, knowing I follow cricket often asked/ask me for my opinion on KP. I always said the same thing;

If Kevin & the ECB came round to my house, I'd get the Coffee & the Chocolate HobNobs out, & we'd have it all sorted in 20 minutes. Offer is still there fellas.

Too late now. But, couldn't have been that difficult to sort. I can't find it in me to wish him anything but the Best. Wish it'd ended differently though.

If I see KP around the ground I'll try & get his autograph. If I do, I can swap two of his for one Luke Wright.

Shouts of "Boring" from the crowd as Pietersen on 60 from 35 is milking singles. That is sort of what we're up against.

I want/need to stay neutral on this Big Bash Model in England debate. Repeat. I go to & love 4/5 Day cricket. Division 1 of the County Championship is supebly competitive. Teams come hard at you in every session.

Generally, I do find the T20 I see around the world (& on TV) to be good quality & competitive. Its got its own rhythm & meter. It's just not right up there with my preferred sports. I won't knock it.

But, my English Brothers need to understand the hit the ground running infrastructure for the Big Bash here in Aus. Because of the logistics. And because they sold me a two match Membership, Sydney Thunder are my adopted team.

They are NOT the Sydney team who use the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which we all know from the tele. (That is the Sydney Sixers). The Thunder use the Sydney Olympic Stadium (with a drop in pitch). That stadium holds "many tens of thousands".

But, because the AFC Asian Football Cup is at the Olympic Stadium, the Thunder are having to find alternative accommodation. Recap, not the SCG, not the Olympic Stadium.

So, that's how we find ourselves at the "third choice" Spotless Stadium. The 20k capacity Spotless Stadium. Put pitch quality aside (it's a drop in). The Spotless Stadium that (my opinion) is better than the WACA, Kingsmead & every English ground. (Lord's not being a cricket ground, but being a private, elitist Club).

It is a brilliant place to watch cricket. And, it's not really a cricket ground. Come on, that's got to help. Best part of 13k in tonight.

75/179