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ElGrecoAthens

Listed below are comments made by ElGrecoAthens between Sunday, 28th December 2008 and Wednesday, 7th January 2009.

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Pietersen's gamble too far 5:55pm on 07 Jan 2009 Post 139/141 - sometimes being a little bit away from the front line can help you see things from a different perspective.

Yes, we still have problems here in Athens - policeman shot yesterday - big strike called for Friday...hopefully no one was given tear gas as a Christmas present.

Not too much cricket here although you may be interested to know that one club in Athens has managed to secure the Olympic Equestrian Centre as a ground. This is a major step forward for cricket in Greece.

See this article:

http://www.sportingreece.com/kb/article.asp?fIndex=2636
Pietersen's gamble too far 5:40pm on 07 Jan 2009 Radical as it sounds to all of those who think that cricket adminstrators are a bunch of stuff-shirted toffs while Kevin Pietersen is the king of cool, the people's champion, this is absolute twaddle.

KP comes from a well-to-do white South African family, more priviliged in upbringing than just about everybody - with the exception of Andrew Strauss - in the England set-up. Certainly more so than the "hard knocks" Peter Moores.

KP is a wonderful cricketer and England is lucky to have him. He also had the makings of a pretty good captain on the field. What this incident appears to show is that he is lacking in leadership.

A true leader would understand the different requirements of the two jobs - captain and coach - and respect them. He would do so behind closed doors, respecting the value of a tight dressing room.

Most important a captain recognises that the team is more important than the individual. It is telling that Pietersen did not have the full backing of his players.

KP showed immaturity in making a public row with Moores and in handing in a set of demands to the ECB.

ECB boss Hugh Morris, who is a man of the highest integrity, and - for those who have short memories was also a highly respected captain of Glamorgan - was absolutely correct to accept Pietersen's resignation.

We have not yet seen the full story of Moores' contribution to the dispute but it looks as though he has had to be sacrificed to sate the other side of the debate.

As to who comes in, I can think of no one better in the short term than Andy Flower as coach and Andrew Strauss as captain. Disruption will be minimal, egos will be kept in place and England - with Pietersen in the middle-order - will win in the West Indies and reclaim the Ashes...oh if only life was so simple.

Cheers from the riot zone...
Ask Bearders #184 5:55pm on 28 Dec 2008 Hi Bill,

I have a question about Greek Cricketers...now I know that ex-Aussie fast bowler Jason Gillespie is half Greek and of course Safrican keeper Nic Pothas is also of Greek descent - but are these the only "Greeks" to have played
a) international cricket
b) first-class cricket

I thought there might be a few more Aussies (esp in Victoria)/Saffers around.

By the way we have a new ground in Athens which, fingers crossed, will herald the rise of the Minotaurs on the world cricket scene...

Cheers El Greco

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