Kevin Pietersen, England captain. If South Africa’s win on Saturday sealed an extraordinary day, then today’s announcement caps a remarkable rise for Pietersen — and begins what could be one of the most fascinating leadership battles that cricket has seen. Pietersen versus Smith? As if we didn’t have enough to focus on in the series already…

Captaincy is cricket’s talking point this morning, the England leadership debate offset by plaudits for South Africa’s skipper. Fourth innings run chases tend to fail, and there was every chance South Africa’s was going to follow suit. Instead, Graeme Smith held his team together with an outstanding display of application and determination, crafting the innings of his life for a famous South African victory.

Smith might not be the most graceful of creatures at the crease, but he’s forged a technique which, when coupled with his temperament and resolve, makes him one of cricket’s more difficult men to bowl to. Never has he shown that so comprehensively as on Saturday; Smith was happy to dub it his greatest ever innings, and rightfully so. Unbeaten hundred to lead his country to an historic series win away from home? The stuff of schoolboy fantasy; Smith will have few finer moments.

He’s not a man who would have let up with the series now won, but the appointment of Pietersen will only fire Smith up further for a 3-0 victory. Michael Vaughan’s had an unfortunate series, his chronic knee problem exacerbating poor form, and some odd selections have hastened the end of the tenure of one of the game’s great modern leaders. He deserved to leave on a brighter note, but sport has little time for sentiment; a new era begins when the fourth Test gets underway, one that completes Pietersen’s remarkable ascension in international cricket.

There’s no questioning Pietersen’s talent as a cricketer, and no batsman currently playing is a more electric sight at the crease when in full flight. But Pietersen’s elevation to the captaincy is foremost through a lack of alternatives, given that the selectors want a single leader for the Test and one-day sides; with little by way of captaincy record to go on, and a maverick character, his appointment is something of a gamble.

But if anything’s likely to get him off to a winning start in his new position, it’s leading England against South Africa, and in particular against Smith. The history of the two men is well documented — see Pietersen’s autobiography for reference here — and while there’s been less visible tension between the two in the series thus far, you can expect some fierce interaction when the final Test starts.

All of which will only add to what’s been a fascinating series, and a powerful reminder that the rise of 20 over cricket certainly hasn’t killed the five-day game. The cricket’s been captivating, and while watching it has been more enjoyable for South Africans than the English, cricket fans across the board have been treated to a special series. One final game, Smith versus Pietersen, and a new era for England — an already fascinating series is about to get more so.

  • Contact Dan at dan@metropolis.co.za
    Print this page
    Send this article to a friend
    RSS
       Digg
    de.li.cious
    facebook