Menu

Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen Image: Wikimedia Commons. Blnguyen / CC BY-SA 3.0

Kevin Peter Pietersen (born 27 June 1980) is a former England international cricketer, widely regarded as one of England's greatest batsmen. A right-handed batsman and occasional off-spin bowler, he represented England across all three formats between 2004 and 2014, including a brief tenure as captain. He is renowned for his competitive temperament and an often controversial relationship with the cricketing establishment.

Key facts

Full name Kevin Peter Pietersen
Date of birth 27 June 1980
Place of birth South Africa
Batting Right-handed
Bowling Off spin (occasional)
International career 2004–2014
England captain 4 August 2008 – 7 January 2009
Major domestic teams Natal, Nottinghamshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Melbourne Stars, Quetta Gladiators, Rising Pune Supergiants, Hollywoodbets Dolphins

Background

Pietersen was born in South Africa to an Afrikaner father and an English mother. He made his first-class debut for Natal in 1997. In 2000, he moved to England, citing his displeasure with what he described as the racial quota system in South African domestic cricket. Owing to his English ancestry, he was eligible to play for England subject to completing a four-year qualifying period in English county cricket, which he served at Nottinghamshire.

International career

Pietersen made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Zimbabwe in 2004, and his Test debut during the 2005 Ashes series against Australia. He was appointed captain of England's Test and ODI sides on 4 August 2008, but resigned on 7 January 2009 after only three Tests and nine ODIs in charge, following a dispute with England coach Peter Moores, who was sacked the same day.

He won the Player of the Series award at the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, where England claimed their maiden ICC trophy. In May 2012, after a disagreement over his schedule, Pietersen announced his retirement from international limited-overs cricket on 31 May. Although he later retracted the decision, his relationship with both the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and his team-mates deteriorated during the home series against South Africa that year, and he was dropped for the final Test of that series.

Pietersen's final England appearances came in the 2013–14 Ashes and the subsequent ODIs, after which he was informed that he was no longer being considered for international selection.

County and franchise career

Pietersen left Nottinghamshire for Hampshire in 2005. England's reliance on him meant he made only a single first-class appearance for Hampshire between 2005 and 2010. In June 2010, he announced his wish to leave Hampshire and joined Surrey on loan for the remainder of the season, moving permanently in 2011.

In franchise cricket, he played for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League until the end of BBL07, the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League, and the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in the CSA T20 Challenge. He was also signed by the Rising Pune Supergiants for the 2016 season of the Indian Premier League.

Records and significance

  • Among the fastest batsmen to reach 1,000 ODI runs, and holds the record for being the fastest player to reach 2,000 ODI runs.
  • Has the second-highest run total from a player's first 25 Tests, behind only Sir Don Bradman.
  • The fastest player, in terms of days, to reach 4,000, 5,000 and 7,000 Test runs.
  • In March 2007, became only the third English batsman to top the ICC ODI rankings.
  • In July 2008, The Times described him as "the most complete batsman in cricket"; in 2012, The Guardian called him "England's greatest modern batsman".
  • Named in England's greatest Test XI by the ECB on the occasion of England's 1000th Test in August 2018.

Timeline

  1. 1997 – First-class debut for Natal.
  2. 2000 – Moved to England; joined Nottinghamshire.
  3. 2004 – ODI debut against Zimbabwe.
  4. 2005 – Test debut in the Ashes; left Nottinghamshire for Hampshire.
  5. March 2007 – Reached top of the ICC ODI rankings.
  6. August 2008 – Appointed England captain.
  7. January 2009 – Resigned the captaincy following dispute with Peter Moores.
  8. 2010 – Player of the Series at the ICC World Twenty20; moved to Surrey on loan.
  9. 2011 – Joined Surrey permanently.
  10. 2012 – Announced and later retracted retirement from limited-overs internationals; dropped during series against South Africa.
  11. 2013–14 – Final England appearances during the Ashes tour of Australia.
  12. 2016 – Signed by Rising Pune Supergiants for the IPL.
  13. 2018 – Named in England's greatest Test XI by the ECB.

References