KP

Also, one notes his first game in England since his sacking is on Friday in the T20 Blast against
Essex at 'The Oval'. One wonders if all those who bought tickets last week expecting to see
KP can get free entry this week. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=253UZvi9GOs&feature=youtu.be

We live in a strange cricket world.

The 'Daily Telegraph', lead by Derek Pringle, savaged and pilloried KP back in
the summer of 2012. 

Pietersen made it clear of his dislike and distrust of the paper. There was no
love lost during the next two years. Now KP is their regular columnist,
using every chance to criticise the England hierarchy. The article below is
the full salvo and everything you would expect from a scorned hero.

Have 'The Telegraph' fallen out with the ECB? Or is this a clever move by the 
paper to gain the full media rights of KPs book when it's published in the
Autumn?

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/kevinpietersen/10885047/Kevin-Pietersen-Jos-Buttler-and-Ben-Stokes-must-be-in-the-England-Test-side.html
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/kevinpietersen/10884957/Kevin-Pietersen-The-England-dressing-room-during-the-Ashes-series-was-no-fun-Im-glad-to-be-out.html

bm,

Thanks for the lowdown. Certainly, I'm behind the eight ball this morning. 

What a story brewing. Phew!! Now 'The Daily Telegraph' has given KP
his own column, talk about putting the cat amongst the pigeons. The next
4 months could be dynamite as we lead up to Pietersen's book publication.

And what the hell are the Telegraph thinking of? Their most prized cricket
journalist, Nick Hoult, the golden messenger boy of the ECB, who has been
given more scoops by them in recent years than an obese ice-cream obsessive.
Is there no honour amongst conniving thieves? 

I would imagine there is consternation amidst the control freaks of the ECB. What
now? A series of spats, accusations and counter-accusations. Surely, some sort
of media pact must be contrived. Various people have suggested that the ECB
communications officer, Colin Gibson, is the malicious gossip-mongerer, insider and
whistleblower. Perhaps, focus should be placed on him. Was he the person who gave
'The Sun' a pack of lies?

twitter.com/ColinGibson2

At least, John Etheridge, the 'Sun' antagonist tweets. "Was told categorically at Lord's
yesterday that gifts were returned and in ECB offices. Weird - will investigate. Can
only apologise." For a 'Sun' journalist to apologise in such a grovelling manner -
amazing!

Given KP has 1.8m Twitter followers and with the Telegraph's average daily sales of
545,000 + it's daily unique online visitors closing in on 3.5m, Kevin Pietersen is by far
the most powerful voice in this growing spat - far outranking even the 'Daily Mail'. Then,
add to that mix Piers Morgan's support and his 4m twitter followers.

It is an extraordinary situation. If there is any desire, simmering malice, any dark bone
in his body, Pietersen has the power now to really damage the ECB. And the more he
stands up to these malicious lies and is proven correct, the more powerful he becomes.

At least, this may liven up what could be a very dull summer with the ECB-cloned Cook
as captain.

If anyone wishes to follow this morning's spat, below is KPs Twitter.

twitter.com/KP24

PS: O/T but what a delightful tweet from Piers Morgan about another
marmite man, Simon Cowell.

"Fun dinner with @simoncowell and the delightful Lauren. So pleased to discover she
calls him 'Dumbo'."

One feels the ECB are running scared now KP has been given his 'Telegraph' column.
It changes their dynamic altogether and puts Pietersen and his influence amidst the
establishment, the primary supporter the ECB have relied on in the past. Do not forget
the damage the paper did to KP during the summer of 2012 and the whole-hearted
support they gave the ECB. It gave the Board an unenviable powerful position over
Pietersen. Now, the tables have turned. And for an increasing dictatorial and occasionally
paranoid ECB, this must be their worst nightmare with a Pietersen book soon to be published

This spat is now developing as KPs confidence grows with every tweet. He is now demanding
the ECB source of Etheridge's "malicious lies".

PS: The 'Huffington Post' now steps into the breach.

Aside from the rarity of a Sun apology, the exchange will reflect terribly on the ECB, who have
been heavily criticised for their handling of Pietersen's demotion from the England team.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/11/kevin-pietersen-the-sun-100th-cap_n_5483216.html 

Meanwhile, Etheridge has still not deleted his tweet trumpeting his article of "malicious lies".
I am not surprised KP was so mad with him, given a tweet Etheridge wrote on Monday re: the
cricket awards. "But Kevin Pietersen has been expunged from history - no footage, no mentions,
no awards and he was not present." Expunging Pietersen from cricket history is like trying to
expunge Sir Ian Botham.

Why was KP at Lords yesterday being entertained in a box instead of with his Surrey "teammates" at Derby?

Piers Morgan is a "Lord's Box Surfer!"

On Saturday he was in Sir Ian Botham's box - on
Sunday Amit Bhatia's box. It sounds deep and dirty.

Bring on the scandal!