England's Summer Of Cricket against New Zealand and AUSTRALIA!

[Shaggy]

Oh that's really tough for Australia. He can't play in their third and final ICC Champions Trophy game and will miss a few county warm-ups. Big deal.

Is the one-day series before the Ashes or after?

Assume the one day series is after.

He's never faced a Duke ball in England so if they do pick him for the first Test he'll be going in completely new to the ball and conditions.

Not that it matters - he's **** anyway

Last 3 knocks over here (white ball) - 0, 0, 9.

[Sarb]

Assume the one day series is after.

He's never faced a Duke ball in England so if they do pick him for the first Test he'll be going in completely new to the ball and conditions.

Not that it matters - he's **** anyway

Last 3 knocks over here (white ball) - 0, 0, 9.

Shane Warne slated the Aussie selectors for picking 3/4 openers in their touring party. He said they are clueless. I wonder if Warner would have actually played. Badly off form

[Buzzo]

KP about to return, England miss him for sure. He must be relishing the prospect of batting against this particular Aussie team. He, Cook and Trott have made big runs against decent Aussie teams so it will definitely be interesting to see what they can plunder against this one.

Kevin Pietersen set for return from injury ahead of Ashes

Kevin Pietersen is expected to return to action on Friday after three months out because of a knee injury - handing England a major boost ahead of the Ashes, which start on 10 July.
The batsman, who last played in March, looks highly likely to be part of the Surrey team for the County Championship game against Yorkshire.
Asked on Twitter if he was playing, Pietersen replied: "Yes I am."
Pietersen in focus
Kevin Pietersen's average in Tests is 49.01 and he has 22 hundreds in the longest format of the game
There had been doubts at to whether the 32-year-old would be fit for the Ashes.
Pietersen also recently tweeted that he was "feeling great" after a net session, which involved fitness work and fielding practice in addition to batting.
The right-hander's absence started when he was ruled out of the third Test on the tour of New Zealand and he has since missed the return series in England, as well as the current Champions Trophy tournament.
England, who play New Zealand in the Champions Trophy on Sunday, also face the Kiwis in two Twenty20 matches before a four-day match against Essex ahead of the first Test against Australia at Trent Bridge.

[Shaggy]

His presence alone transforms the look and feel of the top/middle order.

[Buzzo]

He is a player for the big occasion. I think his presence alone adds something to the Ashes, he is always at the centre of the action, good and bad, and must fancy his chances of causing some big, big runs against these aussies.

One of my favourite cricket moments ever was KP scoring his 158 at the Oval to win the ashes in 2005. Some of these shots, given the pressure. A star was born.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQiVUM9cYmw"]Kevin Pietersen 158 vs. Australia, The Oval, September 2005 - YouTube[/ame]

[Chazza]

Sky Sports News @SkySportsNews
Kevin Pietersen named in 14-man England squad for T20 Series with New Zealand #SSN

[Chazza]

Owen Gibson @owen_g
KP will play for England in the second T20 against NZ a week today, provided he comes through county championship game for Surrey on Friday.

[Shaggy]

If it rains all day today, India go through. WTF

[Alex]

Stupid isn't it. You'd think they would have put tomorrow by just incase. If it rains on Sunday apparently it gets shared

[Shaggy]

Oops wrong thread

[Vermilion]

He is a player for the big occasion. I think his presence alone adds something to the Ashes, he is always at the centre of the action, good and bad, and must fancy his chances of causing some big, big runs against these aussies.

One of my favourite cricket moments ever was KP scoring his 158 at the Oval to win the ashes in 2005. Some of these shots, given the pressure. A star was born.

Kevin Pietersen 158 vs. Australia, The Oval, September 2005 - YouTube

Nice Post.

Warne at the end was class.

[Chazza]

KP hit 177no for Surrey today.

[Alex]

In 188 balls too. Doesn't seem to have missed a step

[EwarWoo]

Lol. Aussies sack their coach 2 weeks out. Have they given up completely?

[Shaggy]

Clarke steps down as a selector too LOL

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jun/24/michael-clarke-resigns-australia-selector-ashes?CMP=twt_gu