The KP drama every day leaves the followers with more twists and turns than what Jack Bauer managed in the entire 8 seasons of epic "24" teleserial. When one thought that finally the episode would be over with KP releasing the apology in a video statement, they were wrong. KP had done more damage than what ECB first thought. And KP has paid the price. He wont play the final test of this series. And ECB have done the obvious which might have been hardest thing to do for them in recent times.
But they were left with no choice. KP didnt offer any chance to them. Team unity comes over whims and fancies of any player, no matter it is KP or any one else. Sending scathing texts about the coach and captain to the opposing team is just ridiculous and outright stupid. KP has paid the price for it and perhaps cost England the #1 ranking in Tests at least.
He was given 6 hours to set things right owing to the texts he sent, but KP already had done the damage and there was nothing he could have done to win his place back even after all sorts of back-down from the stated positions all this while.
I think ECB has done right to drop KP and set a precedent in world cricket that no player is indispensable, no matter if he is best player and in-form player. Team spirit and unity come first. And the worst price they are going to pay would be the loss of # 1 ranking in Tests.
ECB are to blame in the way they have managed KP all this years, but KP is no saint either. Playing IPL ahead of Kiwi Test series wasnt right and so were his demands to pick and choose games / series he wanted to play. Moreover his behavior within the dressing room and outside it left a lot to be desired and led to questions if he was matured enough. But one thing that went always in his favor was his batsmanship. He is England's best player. And now he stands lost, stands lonely and mocked.
Perhaps this ouster is temporary and is short-lived. Perhaps it is not. The ODIs against Saffers and T20 world cup follow, it remains to be seen if KP makes it into those teams. But for now its ECB leads in the ego clashes against KP.
