Sydney: Kevin Pietersen, the star batsman that England overlooked for the Cricket World Cup, is here in the role of a commentator.
Taking a break from his radio role for the Dubai-based Channel 2 Group on Wednesday, he spoke to Gulf News about his love for reaching out to fans through commentary.
“Frankly I am loving it,” he said, putting an arm around Ajay Sethi, the chairman of the Channel 2 Group. “It is totally different from playing cricket. I would rather be playing cricket, but this is the next best thing.”
It was a busy time for the star batsman, who is hoping to return to the England team and lift them from the pathetic state they slipped into during the World Cup. Pietersen was also giving television commentary and, each time he passed from one section to the other, fans stopped him for autographs.
“When I was doing a 15-minute stint for radio it started raining, so I had to jump from there and go back to the television studio. It was great fun,” said Pietersen, who is now closely linked to Dubai after launching his cricket academy there.
When asked what the response to his radio comments has been like, Pietersen, who uses social media extensively, said: “Amidst this busy time I haven’t checked social media. Television gives me a break time so I will do that during those breaks.”
Pietersen also commentated for the BBC. Everyone had only one question — whether he would return to international cricket again. “I have expressed my interest in trying to get back into county cricket. If I can do anything that can help me get back into it for England, then it’s something I want to do,” he said.
“I would have loved to have had it done sooner, but I really want to make the right decision. I would love to get runs in county cricket. I don’t know how it’s going to happen, I just have to wait and see. There are a few things that need tinkering with, but I want to make the right decision.”
It is understood that six county teams are keen to sign him up, though he has played only limited overs cricket since being discarded by England.
In 2014, he played for the Sethi-owned St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League, in the Indian Premier League for Delhi Daredevils and for Surrey in the English Twenty20 tournament.
During the Sri Lanka-South Africa match, he was in his elements.
When wickets fell in a heap for Sri Lanka at Sydney, leaving Kumar Sangakkara stranded at the other end, Pietersen said: “If I was him, I would be looking to score boundaries off the first four balls and get down the other end. I wouldn’t trust the man at the other end to face four or five balls.”
When Angelo Mathews got out, Pietersen felt he was caught in two minds. “Mathews was caught in between two worlds, thinking ‘should I stay or should I go’. Almost certainly when you get caught between two worlds you mess it up.
“It was a half-hearted shot. It’s normally an easy shot for him, one he would normally hit for six.”
