Big Bash League 2018 could be Kevin Pietersen's swansong
What’s the story?
Kevin Pietersen has admitted that his playing career is coming to a close, and the upcoming Big Bash League could be his final tournament as a cricketer.
"I am definitely coming to the end of my playing time. So I am definitely going to enjoy the last few digs. It's fairly close. It's the practice that you look at and you just think, 'do I want to do it?
I've still got the energy at the moment but it's dwindling", Pietersen told cricket.com.au.
In case you didn’t know…
Pietersen illustrious international career was brutally truncated after he was controversially sidelined from the England's national side after the 2013-14 Ashes. Since then, Pietersen has been a 'T20 freelancer' and has played in domestic leagues round the world.
In January 2016, Melbourne Stars had announced that Pietersen had signed a new contract, making the 37-year-old a part of the franchise till the end of the 2018 BBL season.
The heart of the matter
While he played briefly for Surrey in July, before ending his UK playing career, he did not participate in the IPL 2017, pulling out of the auctions in February.
The 2018 BBL season will be his fourth with the Melbourne Stars, but the swashbuckling batsman admits that his playing career is unlikely to go beyond that.
"I’m coming to the end of my career. My career is not going to be defined on how I play in the Big Bash. My career has already been defined by all my ups and downs though a long career. It’s my job to come here and help others, help the youngsters, be a good influence, be a positive influence on the team. That’s what I’ve done for three or four years", he said.
What's next?
Pietersen will don the green jersey for the Melbourne Stars soon, with the League scheduled to take place from 19th December 2017 to 4th February 2018.
Author's take
In a chequered career that came to an abrupt end, Pietersen could have achieved far more in the England jersey than he finally managed to, but it doesn't take away the fact that he was one of the best batsmen to have represented the country.
By conceding that his days are numbered, Pietersen has given his fans a heads up, with a chance for them to witness and relish his game one last time in Australia before he decided to hang up his boots.