Kevin Pietersen (right) with Channel Nine stablemates Michael Slater and Michael Clarke in Perth.
SHANE Warne has gone into bat for good friend and new Channel Nine commentary stablemate Kevin Pietersen in the face of criticism from Triple M.
The Spin King made an appearance on The Grill Team on Friday morning and was forced to defend Pietersen’s somewhat controversial debut during the first Test in Perth.
The South African turned Englishman — who was never afraid to tread on toes during his 104-match Test career — impressed some, and ruffled the feathers of others, during the country of his birth’s victory at the WACA.
Triple M host Gus Worland was among those who didn’t immediately warm to Pietersen’s commentary style and had no hesitation in letting Warne know.
“Now Warnie, I know you and KP are mates off the field. Mate, he’s polarising people with his love of South Africa, when I thought he’s English? I know he’s got a South African accent, but he’s so into the Aussies,” Worland said. “Do you realise how polarising he’s been at the WACA and how many people either love him or hate him.”
“I understand that point of view from people, that’s for sure,” Warne responded. “But I think KP has been pretty good in the commentary box. I thought he put in a pretty good performance in Perth.”
The Test legend then predicted Pietersen would fill the role in the Nine team previously held by another opinionated South African who played for England — late stalwart Tony Greig.
“Unfortunately Tony Greig is no longer with us,” Warne said. “I’m sure Kevin Pietersen will try and be the new Tony Greig. He’s definitely not short of an opinion (and) that’s what we’re all in the Channel Nine box for, to try and improve the telecast and give our opinions. I’m sure KP will be doing that more in Hobart as well.”
But Worland wasn’t convinced: “Sorry Warnie, I’m a massive fan of yours, but he’s annoying.”
H U G E pic.twitter.com/s5Hm5TBs51
— KP (@KP24) November 2, 2016
Pietersen showed an ability to live up to Greig’s standards in one area in Perth — his fascination with the pitch. He may not have stuck his car keys into the turf like Greig did so often, but his interest in a large crack that developed on day two — and Australia’s failure to “penetrate” it — didn’t escape viewers.
WARNE NOT COPPING SMITH EXPLANATION
Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith And David Warner chat to the umpire at the WACA.Source:News Corp Australia
Warne was embroiled in a minor controversy of his own when he questioned Steve Smith’s use of spinner Nathan Lyon in the second innings. Warne thought Smith should have thrown the ball to his offie earlier on day three.
“When the captain doesn’t bowl you in the first session and tries everyone three to four times in their spells, then throws you the ball, as a spinner you’re like an afterthought — ‘we’ve tried everyone else, why don’t you have a bowl?’
“To me it’s bad captaincy because you’re trying to get he best out of the players. To bowl him for 12 overs, his confidence will be low.”
Smith countered in a foxsports.com.au column where he argued bowling Lyon would have been harmful to the reverse swing Australia was beginning to harness.
“The way I saw it out there was that reverse-swing was the biggest factor in the game at the time — there was no spin,” he said.
“So I wanted to keep the ball in the hands of the fast bowlers.
“When Nathan bowls it can actually flatten the rough side of the ball up a bit and stop it from reversing, so I didn’t want that to happen. I explained that to Gaz on the field and it wasn’t an issue.”
But Warne stood his ground when asked to respond on Thursday. “I’m not going to cop this ‘It’s reverse swinging so we’re not going to bowl a spinner or we can’t bowl a spinner when it reverses’,” Warne told reporters in Melbourne.
“It wasn’t as though it was going around corners, hooping all over the place and we were taking wickets — we couldn’t take a wicket.
“We can’t say if we go to India or anywhere else that if it’s reversing, the spinner is out.
“South Africa did (use a spinner) so what are we doing wrong? Are we doing something different and is that why we’re not getting it to swing as far and is that why we can’t bowl a spinner at that time?
“They’re basic fundamentals that need to be fixed because, anywhere you go in the world, if it starts to reverse, we can’t use a spinner? That’s not right.”
Hazlewood: It's frustrating 1:01
Cricket: With the second test in Hobart is just a day away, so we start with cricket.
