Video: Kevin Pietersen playing blindfold cricket
South Africa-born English cricketer Kevin Pietersen is one of the most flamboyant batsmen to have played the game. He is someone who is equally adept at playing the textbook cricket shots as well as the unconventional shots.
Unfortunately, his cricket skills have often been overshadowed by a number of off-field incidents, including the now infamous texting scandal where Pietersen allegedly sent derogatory text messages to some members of the visiting South African side about then skipper Andrew Strauss. The incident has led to a long on-going feud between the two and with Strauss presently appointed as the Director of England Cricket by the ECB, Pietersen’s chances of a comeback to the national team looks grim.
The 35-year-old was incredibly disappointed when he was left out of the Ashes squad that England nevertheless went on to win 3-2, but a recent video has emerged where Pietersen is seen smacking the balls hurled at him from a bowling machine for huge sixes with unruffled confidence – and all that while he is blindfolded.
The video starts with Pietersen putting on the blindfold and having a few touches with the bat to get a feel of the ball. With only the sound at the release of the bowl to depend upon, Pietersen asks the operator for a trial – The ball smashes the stumps leading to the guy quipping at Pietersen: “You’re never hitting that.”
Well, the operator should have known better. Pietersen is never one to shy away from a challenge and after a small warm-up he remarks, “I’ll be alright.” Talk about confidence – Pietersen smashes all but one of six deliveries aimed at him to a massive distance while the pace was increased ball after ball upon the insistence of the English cricketer.
One of the sixes came from a switch hit – a shot which was pioneered in international cricket by Pietersen – while oe went crashed into the windows of a nearby house, leaving the witnesses in utter disbelief.
Apparently, the video was shot prior to the Ashes and one can only imagine, seeing the way Pietersen was hitting the balls, how much more the Australians would have suffered had Pietersen been selected by England.
Watch the video here.