Pietersen feels the heat

By Kowalski

The list of those getting sick and tired of playing cricket matches after cricket matches just keeps getting longer. And the latest to send out an SOS against an overdose of the game is English swashbuckler Kevin Pietersen.

The 26-year-old says the amount of international cricket is just unacceptable to him. He goes on to add that he hates spending months away from his family on overseas tours and wants more time at home after getting married to his model girlfriend Jessica Taylor this December.

"I don't like spending time away from my family, I don't like it at all, especially since I met Jessica. All these future tours that just get chucked in here and there, they don't make me happy. There are so many exciting things to look forward to in life other than cricket and I've changed a heck of a lot both as a person and a player," he said.

Now, this is one of those rare occasions I would agree with Pietersen. I hate to admit it but the fellow makes sense. I mean those money and power hungry ICC bosses, not to mention, the equally currency-obsessed home boards don't seem to give a damn to what these poor cricketers go through while playing one overseas tour after another.

Our very own Team India skipper Rahul Dravid has been quite vocal in expressing his displeasure over too much cricket.

"…schedules are crammed, over-crammed if you ask me. I don't know how we are going to fit everything in," the Indian captain had said after the drawn first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

But is anybody listening? Last heard the ECB was yet to react on Pietersen's grievances and Dravid's complaints had been, as usual, debunked by the BCCI.

Image: kevinpietersen.com

Whatmore out; BCCI drives Ford in

By Private

Well well well...BCCI does have a penchant for pulling rabbits outta hat. After pursuing Dav Whatmore for months, they've now put him ''out of contention''. The guy was more than willing, mind you.

This is what BCCI Treasurer N Srinivasan had to say after the seven-member selection committee met in Bangalore:

We have decided to invite Ford and another coach of foreign origin for discussions on June 9 in Chennai. We have not been able to reach the second person so far but we hope to do it soon.

We had made contact with Whatmore before. By implication you can say that Whatmore is out (of contention).

For those who came in late, Graham Ford (who probably has nothing to do with Henry Ford), coached South Africa between 1999 and 2001 and is currently the Director of Coaching with Kent County Club.