Battle #654685 - Kumar Sangakkara vs Kevin Pietersen

[lionheart]

Went KP, Sanga is world-class but I think KP has potential to be an all-time great which some reason I don't think Sanga will ever be regarded as.

your sentiment intrigues me, care to elaborate?

ps. i'm not having a go or anything of that nature, just genuinely curious.

 

[Top_Cat]

Right now, Sangakkara is the more accomplished batsman and just looks more classical than KP but I reckon, once KP really puts it together, he'll be a world-beater. Has all the tools; hits the ball as hard as anyone, shots to all parts of the ground (doesn't seem to have as obvious a leg-side bias as he did early on), plays pace and spin very well, rock-solid defence and a real ticker for the fight.

My impression of him is formed right from his first Test; in the midst of one of the worst Test collapses I've ever seen and McGrath bowling brilliantly, he was almost serene. If you didn't know, there's no way you'd have thought it was his first Test. Some batsmen never play that well under pressure. He was even more the complete player on his Ashes 06/07 tour, his ton in Adelaide was a gem. One of those guys who is constantly re-assessing where he wants to be, how and why as evidenced by his transformation from a bloke who hit a long-ball to the more patient player we see today. Personally, I think he's gone too far into the patient territory and once he strikes that balance, he'll be awfully tough to stop in any conditions against anyone.

 

[vic_orthdox]

He is is he? Blimey, I wonder why.

Pretty sure that Nel is pretty popular off the field.

 

[Richard]

My impression of him is formed right from his first Test; in the midst of one of the worst Test collapses I've ever seen and McGrath bowling brilliantly, he was almost serene. If you didn't know, there's no way you'd have thought it was his first Test. Some batsmen never play that well under pressure. He was even more the complete player on his Ashes 06/07 tour

Indeed, just frustrating that he was so wastefully poor in between times (and he was - between his 3rd Test and the 2006/07 tour almost all the big innings he played were with help from let-offs).

Could and should have done so much better. Has and did, of course, in said tour and summer 2007.

 

[Richard]

Pretty sure that Nel is pretty popular off the field.

Oh he is, just rather surprised that a South African current cricketer and Kevin Pietersen would be friendly, really.

 

[PY]

your sentiment intrigues me, care to elaborate?

ps. i'm not having a go or anything of that nature, just genuinely curious.

I'm not sure to be honest, I think it has a lot to do with the way they play the game. KP has a more bombastic style than Sangakarra and has much greater potential to rip a game out of your hands and throw it 100 miles away.

I basically wanted to say what T_C says a few posts earlier. I think KP isn't quite at his peak yet, and I think Sanga is at his peak so KP I believe has the step further to go but I'd still take him now over Sanga. The decision is on a knife-edge but as I said, him playing for England might tip the balance towards him.

 

[PY]

So what's changed?

We've beaten you in every Test series since.

 

[Isolator]

but there's just something about KP, the aggression, control and general audacity when he's on song that makes me never want to get up when he's batting. I'm a massive fan of style and correctness, but the later category just pips it in what I enjoy watching more. Can watch both play all day though.

Yeah, agreed, provided he gets out of this current phase of boringness. There was a real aura about him, especially in the ODI series against SA and in the 05 Ashes.

 

[Richard]

I'm not sure to be honest, I think it has a lot to do with the way they play the game. KP has a more bombastic style than Sangakarra and has much greater potential to rip a game out of your hands and throw it 100 miles away.

I basically wanted to say what T_C says a few posts earlier. I think KP isn't quite at his peak yet, and I think Sanga is at his peak so KP I believe has the step further to go but I'd still take him now over Sanga. The decision is on a knife-edge but as I said, him playing for England might tip the balance towards him.

I can't see Pietersen doing any better than Sangakkara has the last 2 years or so. I'll be surprised, in fact, were he to do as well.

BTW do you have to "to be honest"? Sounds so awful. Is TBHing really that 'ard?

 

[GIMH]

 

[Richard]

Just sounds so horribly forced whenever anyone types-out "to be honest" on CW TBH.

 

[PY]

To be honest (), I dislike acronyms quite a lot. Think it's a slightly improved version of text speak.

Again, expecting plenty of acronym only posts in reply...don't disappoint people.

 

[Richard]

DWTA, very strongly. IMO that's exceptionally poor form TBH, I mean FFS how are acronyms anything like txtspk. WTF?

Bugger it, I CBA arguing this nonsense. FWIW, Youngmeister, you're in a small minority BTW.

Well you did ask for it.

 

[Top_Cat]

DWTA, very strongly. IMO that's exceptionally poor form TBH, I mean FFS how are acronyms anything like txtspk. WTF?

Bugger it, I CBA arguing this nonsense. FWIW, Youngmeister, you're in a small minority BTW.

Well you did ask for it.

Would have been classier to abstain, TBH.

Ah dammit.

 

[Isolator]

this board is going to hell.

 

[Richard]

You might say it's being isolated.

 

[vic_orthdox]

I can't see Pietersen doing any better than Sangakkara has the last 2 years or so. I'll be surprised, in fact, were he to do as well.

BTW do you have to "to be honest"? Sounds so awful. Is TBHing really that 'ard?

As long as you're OK, Richard.

 

[Richard]

 

[Jono]

BTW do you have to "to be honest"? Sounds so awful. Is TBHing really that 'ard?

Richard don't make this forum more cliquey than it already is.

 

[GIMH]

WTFAYOAJ? a