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The 'Lara' of England

AFP, St John's
A few years ago when Brian Lara ruled the world of batting, West Indies were accused of being a one-man show and now Kevin Pietersen has done the same for England.
Following Saturday’s capitulation for their third-lowest total of 51, and subsequent defeat to West Indies by an innings and 23 runs at Kingston, suggestions and evidence have emerged that England may be falling into a similar boat.
Arguments have emerged that Kevin Pietersen has been carrying England’s batting on his broad shoulders for the last few years, and the rest of the batting has simply failed to consistently turn up.
It has been observed that Pietersen is the only batsman scoring hundreds regularly. He has collected nine in his last 23 Tests, plus two scores between 90 and 100, and has averaged about 45 during this same period.
Meantime, England captain Andrew Strauss has been the most productive with four hundreds in his last 26 matches and averages close Jo.40 ip that time. All the other main batsmen have one or two hundred, and average in the mid-30s.
To some, it appeared the rest of the England batting surrendered tamely, after Pietersen was spectacularly bowled by a well-pitched leg-curter from Jerome Taylor for one in England's second innings of the openingTest.
Senior England coach Andy Flower hopes this was not the case.
"When you have got big characters in your side like KP and Freddie Flintoff, there might be a tendency for others to shrink a little," he said.
"It is their responsibility to rise to the challenge and their responsibility to grow, and their responsibility to take responsibility, and make sure thattheir performances are up to speed."
But Flower does not believe he has seen any signs of this over-dependence on Pietersen. "It is something for which we would have to look out though," he said. "I think we have got
enough men in our squad of 16 that tills would not be the case."
Flower also defended Pietersen's dismissal in the first innings of the Test. He was perched on 97 having struck beanpole left-arm spin bowler Sulieman Benn for two fours and a six off successive deliveries.
But Pietersen tried to catch the headlines with another big hit and only succeeded in skyinga simple catch for the 'keeper off Benn.
"He is a different sort of player," Flower said. "He is an instinctive sort of player, and I think with guys like him, you have got to take the rough with the smooth.
"You can't expect a brilliant counter-attack without it looking horrible when he gets dismissed sometimes. You have got to take a bit of both."
West Indies too, have recognised the importance of Pietersen to the balance of power for England, and their coach John Dyson feels there is some truth about England's overdependence on Pietersen.
" Kevin is an excellent player, we know that," he said. "We've all seen what he has done over the last 12 to 18 months, and I must swear that when 1 saw that 'off-peg' go, Iwasverv. vcrvhappv.
idulLa.k :l.< V dS1-.. j.lcT.inumli .vukl like to see us knock him over as cheaply as possible for the rest of the series.
"He batted extremely well in the first innings, and I think he was the one that handled the conditions in the first innings with the most ease."
But questions still abound about whether he has retreated humbly to the background since his decision to step down as captain, and his commitment to the cause.
Flower disclosed that he has been handling things very well and has been getting on well with Strauss.
"They get on like two adults," he said. "They get on well in the changing room. They are fine.
"I do not think there is any mistrust. Both of them have been through quite a lot in their lives, and in a lot of ways, there are very mature about putting things behind them and getting on with the job. I can only commend them for it"