The Pietersen perplexity

In the latest Test match, against Bangladesh at Old Trafford, Kevin Pietersen again fell to what is fast developing as his nemesis, Shakib Al Hasan. Well set in the 60s, Shakib floated one up and Pietersen ran past, stumped while still a thrupenny bus ride up the wicket. If it was just Shakib, then it might not be so bad, but it's every left arm spinner that seems to have Pietersen in a tizzy. While there may be a technical explanation for his failings in this regard - I'm no coach and was similarly baffled by all left-arm bowlers during a less than glorious career - the more worrying aspect is his complete failure to apportion some blame on himself.

This all started in the 2009 Ashes series. At Cardiff, Pietersen attempted a ridiculous sweep off Nathan Hauritz which ballooned up, took the peak of his helmet and gave the close fielder an easy catch. The ball was three feet outside off. One run was about the best outcome such a high risk shot could have achieved, but it was brushed off as being "the way I play". So it is with his latest dismissal. There's a complete failure to take responsibility. On a relatively benign Manchester wicket, there was a big hundred in the offing. Pietersen is clearly the best batter England have and he could easily be the best - or at least close to - in the world if he cuts this nonsense out. Pre-meditated shots are fine, but if it suddenly becomes too risky, there must be a plan B. All the best have this in their locker. A Ricky Ponting may have lined up that shot against Hauritz, but would have pulled out when he saw how wide it was. A Sachin Tendulkar may have given Shakib the charge, but would have dropped the bat on it or stuck out a pad rather than go through with a wild hoik when it clearly wasn't there to be hit.

It's often said that a side's best batter plays at three. Pietersen has been steadfast in his refusal to go one up the order in the long form of the game. Perhaps this is as close as we'll ever get to an admission that he's still not mature enough to accept that responsibility.