England put their faith in popular maverick

THERE was so much laying on of hands on the first day of this Test that Kevin Pietersen was as much faith healer as captain. Happily, it worked nicely for him in both roles. A team that has already lost a series needs a dose of tender loving care, and that is what Pietersen delivered by the bucket, along with plenty of positive energy. He was in touch in a tactile fashion and mentally with every one of his players, and their response was excellent. His senior men backed him up admirably. Andrew Flintoff was in there at every opportunity with advice for his captain and his fellow bowlers; Steve Harmison was as proactive as I have seen him in terms of dictating his own field placings, and there was the feeling that everybody on the field was fully involved. That might sound like a subtle criticism of Michael Vaughan’s... [read full story]