Would Kevin Pietersen Have Made the SA Team?

[Tom Flint]

Thank you I never knew that. Was he ever in with a chance of playing intl?

 

[Bolo.]

Thank you I never knew that. Was he ever in with a chance of playing intl?

I dont think so. The first time I can specifically hearing about Ahmed was around 2003 when a commentator introduced him as Hashim's less talented older brother.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Assuming he still developed into the same player despite staying in SA, and assuming that personality conflicts weren't an issue (which you have to do otherwise the question is pointless), then yes. Of course he would have.

He probably would have made the World XI, let alone a SA XI.

 

[Prince EWS]

As long as he developed like he did, absolutely.

I agree with this but I still think it's a tough question because I don't think that's a given at all.

 

[Shady Slim]

Its pietersen, so I wouldnt be surprised if it was just personality issues

while that is true there's significant argument that his cavalier attitude would've either been harnessed, welcomed, or whipped out of him by a setup and culture that SA have (or for that matter aus) rather than an english setup

 

[BoyBrumby]

On the KP: Story of a genius docu that Sky did last year the way Pietersen himself (an unreliable narrator if ever there was, but anyway...) paints it is that he always viewed himself as a batsman primarily, but was encouraged to develop his offies to give him a second string to his bow and juke the quota system because white specialists didn't get a look in.

So he got pegged as an off-spinner who batted and was selected as such.

 

[Dendarii]

The evidence doesn't bear out white specialists not getting a look in, but it's entirely plausible that he was given that advice. He did have some success with his bowling, so with South African spin options not being great at the time it's not surprising that he was seen as a spinner, and a lack of success with the ball due to it not being his strength would have led to limited game time.

That doesn't mean that he wouldn't have eventually dropped the bowling if he'd stayed in South Africa. If memory serves, Gary Kirsten also started out as a spinning all-rounder, so he could have possibly followed a similar path. But moving to England may have allowed him to accelerate the process.

 

[ankitj]

AB got better than KP much later than 2005-06 time frame when KP was doing very well. I think KP would have kept AB waiting in the wings if anything.

 

[ankitj]

On Jan 1 2007, KP was ranked #3 and AB #26.

ICC Test Batting Rankings : Top 100 Rated Test Batsmen

ICC Player Rankings

www.relianceiccrankings.com

 

[Dendarii]

AB got better than KP much later than 2005-06 time frame when KP was doing very well. I think KP would have kept AB waiting in the wings if anything.

Maybe, but Rudolph and Dippenaar were also around at the time, so they may have made way instead. And AB spent a good portion of his early international career opening, so he wouldn't initially have been competing directly with KP for a place.

 

[Howe_zat]

Yeah it's likely that we would have seen a lot more of AB the opener or AB the keeper, but he wouldn't have had to wait very long.

The person whose career might have suffered the most is probably JP Duminy

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah it's likely that we would have seen a lot more of AB the opener or AB the keeper, but he wouldn't have had to wait very long.

The person whose career might have suffered the most is probably JP Duminy

His reputation might have benefited though.

 

[Dendarii]

Duminy came into the side as a replacement for an injured Ashwell Prince, so if they'd already figured out a way to accommodate KP, AB, Amla, Kallis, and Prince in the same side then Duminy's career might not have been much different at first. Although he might not have had the leeway that his early century against Australia gave him.

 

[honestbharani]

I still think it would have been Amla whose career would have been delayed/otherwise impacted by KP staying in South Africa.

 

[TestMatch]

He'd have easily made the ODI and Test teams IMO, and probably had a better and longer career too.

 

[Kirkut]

Yes, his batting style is distinctively South African with high backlift and tendency to play cross batted shots.

 

[Mrmidon]

Personally think KP as a cricketer was right up there and on his day gets in the SA team.
AB same but Amla for me was very average (especially in the Big Tests) so KP would have had that spot for sure.

 

[OverratedSanity]

2008-2012 Amla won matches for SA with incredible regularity in virtually every big series.

 

[trundler]

Amla's peak up there with any I've seen. Was very good to watch too.

 

[Tom Flint]

Amla average lol. Give it a rest