Kevin Pietersen: The last of England's impact players

We might have just seen the switch hit played for the last time in a Limited Overs International. Not because the ICC is considering its legality, but because Kevin Peterson – the inventor of this modern day novelty – has retired from both ODIs and T20s with immediate effect.

We can say without doubt that Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are the only two “impact players” that England have produced since Botham resorted to climbing hills for charity. By an impact player, I mean someone who has straddled all three forms of the game effectively and with a significant amount of success. Just how much impact he has had in the limited overs game can be gauged by a comprehensive statistical analysis of his ODI and T20 careers.

Born in South Africa, KP had his UK born mother to thank for being eligible to represent England in cricket. However, he was in no mood to dole out niceties to his home country as only in his second series in the England shirt, he lived up to his billing as an impact player by hammering three centuries amidst boos and brickbats from the crowds.

However, over the next seven years he would score only four more centuries in ODIs while establishing himself in the World No. 1 Test team setup – although he did prove his worth in the shortest format by helping England claim its only international trophy – the World T20 2010 – with his Man of the Series performances. A turn around the corner seemed in the offing when he smashed two centuries against Pakistan in UAE. It turned out to be his last ODI series.

If statistics are anything to go by, KP is more of a tiger away and lamb at home in ODIs. Against a career average of 41.84 in 127 ODIs, he averages a lowly 32.38 in 48 ODIs at home with only a century. This average jumps up to a sizeable 43.88 in 62 matches in the opposition’s backyard with five centuries. This awesomeness goes one level higher when KP takes his opposition on equal footing – in 17 neutral matches he averages a whopping 58.28 with three centuries.

In T20s, KP‘s average in 14 matches at home (32.36) is almost identical to that in ODIs. A very good average in T20 cricket till you consider his overall average in 36 matches – 37.93. This average falls away significantly to 21.6 in 10 away matches but reaches a Bradmanesque equivalent of 60.40 in 14 matches on neutral ground which includes his stellar World T20 2010 performance.

Now let’s analyse Pietersen’s role as an impact player. England has won 56 out of the 127 ODIs and 18 of the 36 T20s he has played. In these matches he averages an admirable 50.77 in ODIs and a jaw dropping 59.38 in T20s. In contrast he averages 36.37 and 23.23 in ODIs and T20s respectively when England has lost. Not bad but KP definitely shelves his best performances for victories. Verdict – Impact player guaranteed.

For the length of his ODI career, KP has batted at number four garnering 2352 runs in 67 innings at an average of 38.56 with two centuries. Definitely not up to KP standards especially since he has attained higher levels of success in positions where one would tend to say he has been underused.

In 12 innings at number five he averages a mind boggling 116.33 with as many three centuries. He hasn’t done too badly as an opener either – In eight innings he averages 58.86 with two centuries in his last series against Pakistan. A classic case of so near yet so far for England – In Cook and Pietersen they had finally seemed like obtaining the right mix of power and patience. Now they would again have to go back to the likes of Kieswetter to find an opening partner for Cook.

In T20s, KP has been the man to go to when an early wicket falls, or when the team needs a pinch hitter after a steady beginning – and he has delivered on most counts at number three averaging a healthy 38.86 with five centuries. But here too as an opener, Pietersen remains an unfulfilled potential – in three innings he averages 56.00. Is it time for England to seriously consider a title defence and reconsider its central contracts policy?

As a hired gun (read: IPL player), Pietersen has lived up to his high value billing for Bangalore in the past and Delhi in the recently concluded IPL. After a steady start to his IPL career in 2009 (329 runs in 13 matches at an average of 32.90 and strike rate of 135.95), he burst into life albeit in a shortened stint in 2010 with 236 runs in 7 matches with an average of 59.00 and a staggering strike rate of 150.32. After the teams were juggled around in 2011, KP was bought by the Deccan Chargers but after spending a season with them without playing any matches, he found himself in a revamped Delhi Daredevils batting line-up. Grabbing the opportunity with both hands, he struck his way to 305 runs in 8 matches at an average of 61.00 and a strike rate of 147.34 which includes 20 sixes and his first IPL hundred ( against the hapless Chargers).

Pietersen has established himself as a modern day great in all formats of the game, but at 32 one wonders if it was a premature decision to quit the shorter versions. A decision which could have ironically been influenced by his desire to play a greater role in the burgeoning T20 leagues around the world – as an impact player.