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SOUTH Africa and KwaZulu-Natal’s prodigal cricket son, Kevin Pietersen, has put his differences aside and returns for the Dolphins in the first half of the Ram Slam T20 competition in November.
The announcement was made at O.R. Tambo International Airport yesterday, an important occasion that saw Dolphins CEO Pete de Wet and coach Lance Klusener make the trip to the Highveld to confirm the news.
Pietersen has been out of favour with England cricket recently, and the situation was made worse yesterday when England’s director of cricket Andrew Strauss said the winners of the recent Ashes series had benefitted from his omission from the team.
The former Maritzburg College pupil has decided to have a go in a competition he has not played in previously.
Pietersen left South Africa in 2001 to ply his trade in England after citing limited opportunities to advance and enhance his cricket career in the land of his birth.
He has mellowed over the years and despite wanting to play for England again, has left a legacy in the game to be proud of.
While people still talk of his exodus and the great loss he has been to provincial and national cricket in this country, it was refreshing to hear him say, “I am excited to return to Durban at the end of next month and contribute to the Dolphins cause.”
Maritzburg College headmaster Chris Luman was also delighted with the news, saying he hoped to see the man referred to as KP visit the school. “I think it is wonderful for the Dolphins to have someone of his experience and expertise back in the fold, as it were. It will be great to welcome him back into the region and hopefully we will see him at College at some point. I think it is very exciting news.”
