SPORTS

Pietersen wants 'common sense' decisions

Source:PTI
November 21, 2008

Upset after losing to India via the Duckworth-Lewis method in fading light on Thursday, England captain Kevin Pietersen said the November 29 Guwahati match could also see a similar end, and the administrators need to make more "common sense decisions" to avoid such anti-climactic finishes.

Pietersen was particularly upset at the haze-delayed start of the third ODI and felt the lunch break should have been truncated to get a full game.

Besides, he also felt that the authorities should have switched on the floodlights at the Green Park stadium to get a full game.

"I knew when the decision [of delayed start] was made there was no way the game would finish. We tried to get it sorted, we tried to get it turned around but we cannot go against the decision made by the hierarchy," a frustrated Pietersen said.

"I think Guwahati is further north, north-east. It's an 8.30 start there, but I think the sun goes down at three. Guwahati is worth trying a full game," he said, rather sarcastically.

According to him, the game's administrators should look into the issue.

"We need to get some common sense decisions. I think they got to go back to the drawing board now. Things will have to change for the sake of the game.

"Guwahati, further north and starting half-an-hour early, is not going to make much of a change. 4.30 and it's dark here and hence an 8.30 start (in Guwahati) will not help," he said.

About Thursday's game, Pietersen said he always had doubts about a full match in Kanpur.

"I knew it would be difficult to get a game in. I mentioned it in practice yesterday and also in the team meeting but at the end of the day what has happened has happened," he said.

Pietersen said he wanted a shorter lunch break but could not go against ICC rules.

"We tried to get it sorted. Tried to chat with the umpires and stuff but according to ICC ruling, the break has to be half an hour, cannot be less than half-and-hour. We wanted to change the half-an-hour break. At the 9.15 toss we wanted to start as early as possible because we knew that we are not getting a full game in," he rued.

Pietersen's arguments, however, could not impress India coach Gary Kirsten, who said umpires could not have predicted a premature end and the Indian team had nothing to do with the entire issue.

"We played to the rule of cricket and it had nothing to do with us," Kirsten said.

"I don't think umpires could do any difference. They could not set the game knowing it will be bad lights," he added.

Source: PTI
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