Pietersen - Crossing the Boundary

When Kevin Pietersen scored a century in the final Test of the 2005 Ashes he became a national hero. His incredible innings became the most significant played by an English Test batsman in history.

In Crossing the Boundary, Kevin Pietersen recounts that monumental day and the journey that got him there. From his South African childhood playing cricket with his brothers, to his life-changing decision to become part of the England team; from the highs of the 2005 Ashes win to the lows of the following years defeat, Pietersens story is riveting and gives us a rare insight into the mind of an international cricketer and what it takes to become one.

Kevins personal account of his rise to fame is enriched by anecdote and insight from some of the greatest names in cricket: Shane Warne, Ian Botham, Darren Gough, Geoffrey Boycott, Nasser Hussein, Duncan Fletcher, and Michael Vaughan.

Paul Newman is Deputy Sports Editor of the Daily Mail. He collaborated with Kevin Pietersen on Crossing The Boundary and has worked on numerous cricket books, notably the award-winning Playing With Fire by Nasser Hussain. He is a huge fan of both the England cricket team and Tottenham Hotspur FC, and considered having a KP haircut while working on this project but thought better of it.

WHEN I WAS asked to write the foreword for Kevin Pietersens book I thought, what the hell is he doing a book for after only a year in the game at the highest level? Then, when I thought about it a bit more, I quickly recognised that the KP story has already been a complex and interesting one.

Kevin has been through an awful lot in a short space of time. He left the country of his birth to find his fame and fortune in the land of his mother and then had to endure all sorts of things as a young man in a new environment while still learning the game.

All the usual learning processes had to be achieved away from what he was used to, his home environment and his friends and family, but he was still able to explode on to international cricket in a spectacular manner. It took quite something for him to help England regain the Ashes in his first Test series, especially considering that England had not achieved an Ashes victory in almost 20 years . It is just the beginning. The KP story can go on and on, just like Englands celebrations did!

I first met KP in a game at the Rose Bowl when I was playing for Hampshire and he was playing for Nottinghamshire. My first impressions, I suppose, were like everyone elses in the game. Who the hell is this cocky little upstart? From memory he got about 40-odd and played OK.

Kevin was a little different in the way he played. He used his reach pretty well and was trying to be positive, which is always better than being scared to play a shot. I did not really mix with him on that occasion, so did not get to know him, but there were whispers that he was a bit of an individual and did his own thing. I know how people can jump to conclusions too quickly but, as an opposition player at that time, I decided to keep my distance.

When the teams met again later that season I decided it was time to test this kid out. When he came out to bat I stood at the top of my mark and gave him some serious verbals. I wanted to see how he would react, and it was just how I thought he would. When I was coming in to bowl, KP pulled away and, well, it really started then. I gave it to him again verbally and then, second ball, he was out, caught at bat pad. Nothing needed to be said.

At the end of that season we spoke on the phone and, through the chairman of his management company, our friend Ian Beefy Botham, Kevin said he was keen to have a chat about the possibility of leaving Trent Bridge and joining us at Hampshire.

We organised a lunch at a local pub in Southampton and I think we hit it off straight away. KP was an impressive guy. He was confident and knew what he wanted, which I liked straight away. There were a few counties chasing him at the time so we chatted about life, Hampshire and where I thought the club was going. I told Kevin that I thought Hampshire would be a good learning place for him, both on and off the field. I believed his technique would improve playing at the Rose Bowl and he would enjoy himself at the club. We have created a wonderful environment for players to become the best they possibly can and to his credit he decided to take on a contract at Hampshire.

We spoke lots and talked about so much stuff and became very close. I think I understood him, and as his captain I think he enjoyed that and it made a change from where he had come from.

Throughout the 2005 season we talked about the temptations and pitfalls of being successful and how to handle expectations, both his and other peoples. There was talk about him being selected for England, and the more I saw KP play the more I thought, wow, this guy could be something special. It is no secret thats how I felt, as I am on record as saying at that time that England would be crazy not to select him.

As a man I think Kevin Pietersen is very loyal and is a kind and generous guy who just wants to be liked and play cricket. He loves the scene of being an international cricketer and the scene suits him. KP, I think, could go down as one of the most talented players ever to play the game. He has everything in his favour. It will be up to him how far he goes and what he wants to achieve. My view is that once he goes through his failure period then this will be the making of KP.

There really has only been one player in the history of the game who has never really failed for any length of time: the one and only Sir Don Bradman. When KP goes through this he will work out how to play different situations, he will work out who his real friends are, and he will remember what his feelings were when everything was going well. This will make him hungry and, as I said, look out when this happens because we will see some very, very special innings.

By the way, we have seen some pretty special ones so far from the big fella! The one at the Oval which secured the Ashes for England should not have happened. If one of his two chances were taken early, especially the catch that yours truly grassed, I think we would have seen a very different outcome to that epic Ashes battle and, quite possibly, to Kevins life. Its amazing how things happen, and that innings made KP believe that he was good enough at this level. Since then he has got better and better and become one of the most dangerous players in the world.

The Ashes series coming up, as I write, in Australia in the 2006/07 season will be amazing for the players and for the public and media. I think everybody is anticipating another special series but lets hope there is a different result!

The Aussie crowds will give KP massive stick and he will enjoy that. By the end of the series Im sure KP will have earned the respect of the crowds through the way he plays the game, both with his batting and the spirit he shows. He plays the game in the right spirit and has good sportsmanship, and this will make him popular with everyone.

In finishing I would just like to say that this book will be a very interesting read and Im sure it will give you a good insight into what makes KP tick. Its my pleasure to write the foreword. Good luck, buddy except against Australia! I hope this book is a huge success.

Shane Warne, June 2006

WHEN TALENT ANNOUNCES itself these days we rush to buy tickets for the burn-out. This modern scepticism attached itself to Kevin Pietersen long before his bludgeoning and decisive innings of 158 on the final day of the Ashes 2005