The cricket world continues to fall at Kevin Pietersen’s feet at a spectacular rate. Yesterday, he hurtled into the global Test rankings all-time-great category and was also acclaimed as an “artist” by Sir Vivian Richards.
His 226 against West Indies at Headingley meant England’s imperious No 4 became only the 21st player — out of 2,486 — to pass 900 points in the LG ICC Test batting charts.
Pietersen, 26, has now scored 2,448 runs at an average of 54.4 in his first 25 Tests, second only to Sir Don Bradman (3,194 at 91.2).
But he remains third in the world rankings for now, with Ricky Ponting and Mohammad Yousuf first and second.
However, more prolific run-scoring in the remaining two npower Tests against the lightweight West Indies attack could propel him to the top.
His sensational feats have caught the imagination of Richards, the legendary Antiguan batsman who was named as one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the 20th century.
He can see something of himself in Pietersen’s game and there can be no higher praise.
** “In my opinion he’s an artist, because it isn’t just anybody who can go out and do things like that,” said Sir Viv. **
"He can hit the ball where he wants and that’s what batsmanship is about. He can improvise and he is not constricted by where the ball is bowled.
"He is on the path to greatness as long as he continues doing the things he is doing. Sometimes when I played a certain shot it would take the bowler’s breath away and I think he’s doing the same sort of thing.
"When I first came to England there were lots of people who used to say: ‘Viv hits across the line’.
"Now there’s an English guy who is doing the same and everyone loves it because he is scoring runs.
“Even when you reach your peak as a batsman there is room for you to experiment. Kevin sometimes finds it easy and he likes to try new things. I say good luck to the man because that’s why he is so entertaining.”
^ No. Viv used to play Test cricket the way Afridi plays ODI. No comparison my friend. Viv was much effective maniac.
yaar KK se doori ki waja se aap mazaq bhhool gaye
Viv Richards was known for his non-chalant gum-chewing swagger as much as he was known for his batting.... His body language was that of a person who could never be under pressure regardless of the match situation.
Among all current players, KP is the closest to Viv temperamentally and in his aggressive batting style. However, Viv was part of the world-beating West Indies side of the late-seventies and early Eighties....KP, on the other hand, represents a highly ordinary Engilish side so his contributions often stand out.
You knew when he was coming. The outgoing batsman would already have disappeared into the pavilion, and the expectation of what was to follow filled the air. Viv kept you waiting ... time to ponder. Then he appeared, sauntering, swaggering, arms windmilling slowly. He would take guard, and then, head tilted back slightly and cudding his gum, he would walk a few paces down the pitch to tap it while looking the bowler in the eye. It was calculated menace and magnificent theatre from arguably the most devastating batsman of all time. How to bowl to him? Get him to the other end, perhaps. Hold your nerve, do not take what might follow as personal.
