In his latest skysports.com blog, Dave Fulton says Kevin Pietersen needs to find ways to switch off.
In his latest blog, Dave Fulton says Kevin Pietersen needs to find ways to switch off
I've taken time to comment on the appointment and subsequent performance of Kevin Pietersen as captain of England at the Oval because it's too easy in the immediate aftermath of big news to lose your objectivity.
We have an issue in the media with oscillating too violently between extremes of reaction. My initial response to his coronation, for example, was "Oh my God what have they done," while post match I might have hailed Pietersen as some kind of saviour of England cricket.
On more sombre reflection, and speaking as a former county captain, I think he did well in his first Test as captain but will need to modify his approach. The biggest concern we all have with KP is that the captaincy will affect his form and after the Oval I fear it might.
This probably seems like a strange call after seeing him score a fabulous, and in many ways a trademark hundred in the first innings. He was certainly true to his word and played as he always had picking balls from outside off stump and whipping them through mid-wicket. He demonstrated that he wants to play an attacking brand of cricket both with the bat and in the field. I'm all for that.
He did admit, however, to finding it different watching the other batsmen when he was out. Suddenly he was living every ball wanting them to do well because he realised how much it meant to the team. I'm paraphrasing here but in a nutshell he found captaincy more tiring than just playing and more tiring than he thought he would.
Toll
Pietersen used up a lot more mental energy than usual. His dismissal in the second innings to a tired forward defensive prod was unlike him. I'm not meaning to be pedantic or pour water on what was a hugely encouraging first Test win as captain. My point is simply that to captain like he did, with such obvious intensity and passion, is great but if it's something you're not used to it will take its toll.
As a player Pietersen has been used to worrying about himself. When the batting side were on top of England he could often be found on the third man or cover fence for significant periods of time. A lot of batsmen do this because it allows them time to change down a gear mentally.
But as a captain you're thinking every ball. Each delivery means more. Different scenarios are constantly whizzing through your brain: field placings, bowling changes, assessing a batsman's weakness. You're not only thinking about the present but the next half hour and possibly how you're going to manipulate your attack to get to the new ball in an hour's time.
KP's cogs were certainly whirring at the Oval in what was a fairly straightforward Test, and add to this the fact he was charging around motivating, cajoling, hugging and congratulating - even allowing for the adrenalin of his first Test in charge - it'll be tough to keep up.
There is no doubt that Pietersen has a fine cricket brain. He has demonstrated it time and time again with his intelligent batting and he was proactive in the field at the Oval. But he needs to find ways of switching off and staying calm.
The best captains for the most part remain an emotional constant. When the team is down it's important he's lifting them up. When the team is on the crest of the wave it's important the captain keeps a proper sense of perspective and is not surfing on top of it.
