The continuing struggles of Pietersen
The scenario is as follows: . His third ball of the morning has snaked viciously away from Alastair Cook's bat at the last minute to have the England opener caught behind, and Kevin Pietersen is fresh to the crease.
Pietersen watches Mohammad Asif send down a maiden to Jonathan Trott, before Amir begins his first full over of the morning. He takes guard and the typically hushed packed house at Lord's somehow goes even quieter for a second or two.
Amir plays a joker, sending down a delivery that is neither particularly straight, nor does a huge amount in the air or of the wicket.
It is out there - 18 inches outside off-stump, half-volley length - fairly glistening with temptation. But, with thick cloud cover, the ball still new and England 39-2, Pietersen must show the self-restraint of a monk, not the wilful abandon of Don Juan.
After the solemn realisation at the age of 12 that I might not be good enough to play cricket for England I decided that the next best thing, writing about cricket, would have to suffice as a career. That's what I've been doing for the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Sport website since 2001, in which time the sport has changed immensely. You can also follow me on .
