Kevin Pietersen - The 'Problem Child' Disciplined by #StraussLogic

From England snub to be ruled out of IPL 2015 - the Kevin Pietersen drama takes yet another twist. The name Kevin Pietersen is synonymous to 'drama' - he's been an entertainer on-field and continues to be one even off it as well.

From slamming hundreds to texting about his captain to authoring scathing autobiographies - KP has done it all and entertained his audience around the world, except the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

There are people in the world who lack a sense of humour. The ECB is filled with them. Not only are they devoid of humour, they also shy away from dealing with a 'problem kid.' They fear anything flashy and love 'boring'.

KP is a 'problem kid'. He's a genius with the willow in hand but is a genuine predicament for any team, more so for England. (Cook Threatened to Quit if Pietersen Returned)

Over the years, the England cricket teams have never encouraged their players to be loud and flamboyant. While their football squad housed one of the most stylish and controversial character in David Beckham, the cricket team has always stuck with the safer bets.

Of course, there were the odd 'bad boys' like an Ian Botham and an Andrew Flintoff but then, they were their own, crops of their own backyard. (Pietersen Snub: Aussies Relish England Chaos)

KP wasn't. KP still isn't.

Back in the beginning of the noughties, the ECB welcomed KP with opened arms when he chose the Three Lions over the Rainbow Nation. He added spice to their otherwise bland variety of cricket and England found a weapon to blunt Australia.

They marvelled at his cricketing excellence but his red mo-hawk and three lions tattoo made them nervous. KP dyed his hair red and inked himself with the England crest to display his loyalty but the ECB officials took it as a rebellious act of a 'goth-punk' kid. (Pietersen 'Devastated')

They stayed mum because he was dominating Australia and for a change, England were winning. It wasn't their way but KP was taking them to heights they hadn't visited for a long time.

They even handed him the captaincy.

Then, things started to go awry. England didn't win much and they wanted him to fall in line. (Pietersen Snub Indicates Lack of Trust in English Cricket)

That wasn't KP's strongest suit!

It's difficult to make mavericks fall in line. ECB didn't get it because they love discipline and have a penchant for 'boring'. Flashy characters don't suit their palate and their gaudy ways sting them as 'rebellious'.

KP was the hero till England won. He became the problem when they lost. He became the favourite whipping boy and the fall guy for every disaster.

Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen: Relationship Status - 'complicated'!

© AFP

KP led to his undoing too.

He loves the social media and is extremely attached to his smart phone but texting 'unceremonious' things about the captain of your side isn't very smart. Falling out with the coach was acceptable but ending every chapter of your autobiography with the choicest of words for Andy Flower wasn't in good taste either.

Big players are always susceptible to criticism but being a 'cry' baby about a parody twitter account was far below the class of a man with KP's talent.

Over the last decade, KP made his mistakes. This time he took the high road or at least tried to.

He refused the glitz of the Indian Premier League and chose the sobriety of the County Championships. He didn't score many but on the day that mattered, he piled on a massive unbeaten triple hundred.

Then again, for the ECB run-ins are more important than runs and understandably they couldn't trust someone like KP - definitely not with Andrew Strauss at the helm.

Strauss was a fantastic captain and a man of immense integrity. He handled the 'text-gate' with dignity. He did make a frivolous 'comment' during the MCC game but later apologised. He was the man who suffered the most because of KP but he also won the most as captain because of the hard-hitting right-hander.

England have always tip-toed around KP's aura but Strauss, being an outsider himself, should have had a better understanding of his fellow South African-born.

Kevin Pietersen was the ace up Strauss' sleeve while captaining. Starting on a new job, Strauss could have taken the house down by playing his big ace, yet again.

Instead, he played it safe and chose 'boring'.

He was handed the power to dominate English cricket and he used it to teach the 'problem child' a big lesson. It may not have pleased the fans and shocked the experts around the world but #StaussLogic is an instant trend within the ECB.

May be winning the Ashes as a captain did turn Strauss into an Englishman!

Now, with the red mo-hawked maverick put in his place, Strauss and the ECB can safely build a 'safe and boring' English team.

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