Ashes Betting: Slagging off KP and injuring Anderson

England / Frank Gregan / 17 October 2010 /

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James Anderson's fighting talk. England have said they're confident going into the Ashes but they need to stop injuring their own players

"The flow of information coming out of the England camp has been professionally handled and all of the messages have been positive and uplifting. Ergo, it came as a shock when the ECB's paid consultant, the Australian John Buchanan, launched a scathing attack in an interview with Wisden Cricketer against Kevin Pietersen."

Frank Gregan gives us his take on England's preparations for the Ashes, that have included John Buchanan having his say on Kevin Pietersen and James Anderson getting more than he bargained for in the boxing ring.

The vibes coming out of the England camp as they head towards the Ashes series have been more positive than a motivational speaker! Everyone - players, staff, supporters, pundits and the press are full of optimism. Something had to give, top level sport is never chocolate-coated and sure enough the first doubts and aspersions started to surface in the media last week.

Two things caught the eye. The first was a rib injury sustained by Jimmy Anderson on the much scoffed at 'team bonding' tour that England embarked upon earlier this month in Germany. Activities in Deutschland were said to include abseiling and boxing. Those are a couple of strange choices, although abseiling is a means of making a quick escape after a commando-style raid on foreign soil. Bearing in mind where England are flying off to next, it probably fits the bill!

Boxing is a bit more controversial. I've been there, done that and got the t-shirt. "Pick somebody your own size and weight and stand in opposite corners." One three minute round of 'gum shield in and swing from the hip' and it's all over - but does that really bring people closer?

One can only hope that Anderson's injury was not sustained after a kidney punch from a pace bowler looking to improve his chances of selection! Seriously though, injuries do happen in sport and it goes without saying that the more aggressive the sport you're playing, the greater the chances of getting hurt.

That wasn't the case with the second cause for concern last week, which was self-inflicted. The flow of information coming out of the England camp has been professionally handled and all of the messages have been positive and uplifting. Ergo, it came as a shock when the ECB's paid consultant, the Australian John Buchanan, launched a scathing attack in an interview with Wisden Cricketer against Kevin Pietersen.

The outburst was even more spectacular given that every English cricket supporter knows that KP has an ego that's more sensitive than a freshly shaved armpit! Buchanan, nicknamed Ned Flanders, said that Pietersen could be a "major problem" and that "he hasn't done himself or the team any favours with his recent Twittering."

He went on to say that "two of the things that will be tested in Australia are strength and unity and clearly he (Pietersen) hasn't understood his role in the team yet." Okely-dokely Ned, where in the man-management manual does it say that team unity is attained by giving your best player a right good kicking when he is down?

Whilst his team-mates are abseiling and chinning each other in the ring in an attempt to 'get closer', KP is trying to play his way back into form in his native South Africa. Things aren't exactly going well for England's talisman, even though his team the Dolphins enjoyed a nine wicket win in a game that finished last Saturday. KP's total contribution was a second ball duck in the first innings and a 'did not bat' in the second. So it went swimmingly for the Dolphins but KP's batting continues to be all at sea....

Pietersen's dip in form has not gone un-noticed by Betfarians. The top English series bat market is in its infancy but there is [4.8] available to back on KP being England's most prolific batsman in the series and a match in the region of [6.0] is not out of the question. An in-form Pietersen would be much shorter and the early birds might just manage to get a price that becomes a very easy back-to- lay once England arrive Down Under.

It's getting close and England need to hold it together before getting on the plane. Buchanan's rant will not have done anything for KP's morale and Jimmy Anderson's injury is a concern. Having done just about every bonding exercise you could name I still maintain you can't beat a couple of beers and a curry. The England medical staff would probably prefer a Chinese for Anderson - every Hong Kong Palace has spare ribs!

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