KP

Should have just dropped the twat. All this hassle has come from an unnecessary sacking. Ship of fools.

Superb piece of journalism by Morgan. He didn't get to be editor of the Mirror without an enviable capacity to turn a memorable phrase and a forensic ability to craft a polemical narrative of compelling potency - skills that don't get much of a look-in on Twitter.

Belly wants to be careful what he wishes for though, his 'four spot' should be the most vulnerable of the middle order - Mr Scores Runs When it Don't Matter. I like Bello though, despite that little barbed slight on his credentials. Mind you, runs don't matter it seems. It's possibly more to do with whether you're up for stroking Cookie's lovely mane of hair - somebody ought to tell the man that the 80s are long gone - and they were hideous when they were current, according to archive.

The only way all this wouldn't rumble on is if we were playing Zimbabwe and Ireland this summer, but Australia, butter my arse. I don't even like KP and have long said he should be playing for SA not England but even yours truly, Mr Cool, is getting all hot and bothered.

I cannot see how Graves has been "let down" by Strauss and Harrison. Whatever may or may not have been said in the exploratory meetings with Vaughan before the appointment, it must have been very clear on what conditions Strauss would take up the job, and that includes his feelings about selecting Pietersen. To appoint Strauss must have required Harrison going to Graves and making a very strong case for why Strauss would be the right person for the job, and what the implications of that appointment would be. Graves was at fault earlier for one of a number of thoughtless quotes he provided to enterprising reporters, and digging a Graves-trap must now be one of the anticipated delights of any journalist or broadcaster.

Those who thought that Graves with his independence of outlook, strong Yorkshire plain-speaking etc etc was the kinght in shining armour come to rid the land of the dragon Jabba can now see that a vainglorious marketing man has been replaced by a loud-mouthed businessman straight out of Brass. Bradley Hardacre, played by Timothy West, would come close to our Colin for a blithe lack of self-awareness combined with a passion for efficiency that will always backfire.
I remember worried miners' wives, on hearing the news that there may have been a tragedy, gathering at the pit, when Mr Hardacre arrived.

"What news?" they worriedly enquired of him.

"It's a bit dusty outside off stump but Len Hutton is still there."

I don't take seriously the idea that Giles Clarke is still calling the shots over Pietersen. He has much bigger fish to fry with the ICC, where he would really like to put one, or several, over Srinivasan, and his ECB Presidency is largely a vehicle for him to remain in the Great Game.

Who the frig's sposed to be in charge of all this nonsense? Too many chiefs, complete shambles and I agree that this stuff won't go away easily. Who the hell is Harrison and what is the point of him? Honestly, Harrison, Strauss, Graves and Jabba before you even get to captain and coach - what are all these office wallows doing? Nothing from the same script, I know that much. Has it always been this way? Bunch of numb-nuts.

Per BBC website this morning:

"ECB preparing statement responding to @kp24 criticism. Understand chairman Graves refutes claims of deceit, insists he offered no guarantees."

Watch this space . . .