ENGLAND'S pathetic decline in Jamaica on Saturday happened one day after the Indian Premier League auction had been completed in Goa, and the juxta position of events underlined an important element in cricket's current swirl -- without honour in his own country a cricketer is little more than a wedge of banknotes.
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Though the announcements of how many American dollars Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff should earn in India attracted some interest in the United Kingdom, very few cricket followers here actually care what happens in the IPL fixtures. For example, the identity of the reigning champions -- Rajasthan Royals -- barely registers.
When the million-dollar men Pietersen and Flintoff become part of a humiliating defeat in the West Indies -- all out for 51 on a flat pitch at Kingston -- their overblown monetary status looks hollow. They become cricketers without respect, and even more so if they disappear to join the IPL circuit without repairing the damage. It is not too late to redeem themselves in the Test series, but the respect Pietersen commands within the dressing-room, let alone outside, could shrink as fast as my bank account after his undermining of coach Peter Moores.
Many England supporters might feel that Pietersen has nothing to lose and that he can simply walk away into the IPL to become Bangalore's biggest celebrity. Maybe he could become the biggest name in the whole of India, which would be marvellous for him. The problem is that loyalty to the national cause simply cannot be guaranteed, whatever he might say, and some of the South African's team-mates might well think the same.
The ECB cannot escape most of the blame for England's present plight. They appointed a managing director specifically to run the international team and, incredibly, there was a major fall-out between captain and coach occurs within a year, an unprecedented schism. That official, Hugh Morris, has lashed up and must be moved sideways as soon as possible.
The selectors, Geoff Miller and Ashley Giles, have not done their job. The 'left field' hunch to bring in Nottinghamshire's Australian swing bowler Darren Pattinson against South Africa last summer was a predictable failure. England's chronic batting problem has not been tackled. While Strauss, Cook and Bell form the top order -- Bell stays at No 3 despite overwhelming statistical evidence that this is wrong -- every innings will start by wading through treacle. Nothing will be lost by offering Rob Key, of Kent, a chance to open and giving Owais Shah a long try-out.
Personally I would encourage Pietersen to have a nice long trip to Bangalore and not come back until the Ashes series has finished. He would at least earn respect through absence, especially if he helps Indian cricket by coaching children and so on. No one is indispensible.
