Do we need to sacrifice individuality for the 'greater good'? The Kevin Pieterson Scandal as a case study.

As odd is this seems, I have always been a big Pieterson fan. Great to watch, capable of playing the brilliant innings, and surprisingly orthodox in technique, I have never held him in the contemptuous regard that I save for specialist 20/20 batsmen. The controversy which has erupted upon the release of his book this week has struck a particular chord with me because of the nature of the debate. Peculiarly, I agree wholeheartedly with both sides. It resonates particularly as I see this particular dynamic being played out in so many other scenarios in life and it seems to support my attitude that most life lessons can be learned from Test cricket.

So let's set the scene: 

On one end of the crease we have KP. He sees himself as the victim of a bullying and dictatorial regime run by the bullish Andy Flower and supported by the laddish ringleaders like Prior and Swann. Immensely talented, clearly sensitive and possessing a genuine desire to win personal and national honours, he is hurting badly. For him, all he required from the English Test team was a framework to express himself, and release the individual spirit capable of turning games around in a session or two. He wants friendship and acceptance because that is how he will thrive. This is not him being purely selfish or egotistical as everyone likes to accuse him of being. He feels that if everyone was given this opportunity they too would flourish and succeed.

 Authority, discipline and intensive regimes are anathema to him, not because they are evil but because they are only needed in small amounts and stifle his creativity. He is the individual longing to express himself fully, wanting to realise himself and maximise his output. Not at others' expense, mind. So when he encounters the professionalism of Andy Flower he sees an institution, a machine. Someone who he describes as being someone who simply was in the right place at the right time whilst the team of talented individuals peaked.

For the team, you see, is a compilation of individuals working to their maximum output which is only achieved when they are allowed to flourish as individuals. The world of conformity and 'the machine' has no place in sport. Whatever anyone says, the team will only do well when the key cogs are scoring centuries or taking five-wicket hauls. David Gower would look down approvingly from his moth-plane. 

For them that must obey authority
That they do not respect in any degree
Who despise their jobs, their destinies
Speak jealously of them that are free
Cultivate their flowers to be
Nothing more than something they invest in.

And from the other end of the crease we have Andy Flower. And probably Cook, Strauss, Bell, Trott, Vaughan, Gooch and several generations worth of players who might be considered quintessentially 'British' batsmen. For them the team is everything. Team spirit, 'momentum' and unity are not abstract terms to them but represent something fundamental to the game they love dearly. Loyalty and resilience; national pride. 
After all, how can exceptions be made for the one individual whose disregard for the rules could potentially jeopardise the whole team's attitude and performance? Obviously, the individuals must be catered for, but the mindset of each individual must be for the greater good of the team and the bonds created within the team are essential for that. Yes, there is intensive discipline and professionalism but in the modern game that is essential to ensure that everyone achieves peak performance levels. 
Sometimes do things gets a bit competitive and heated? Yes, but this is life, you deal with it and move on. KP sees this as a culture of bullying and cleaques? Well, that's probably because never understood the need to think bigger than himself. Immaturity. Child-like. Little boy lost, he takes himself so seriously. 

KPs and Flowers are scattered everywhere. Maybe they are personality-types, or maybe we all have these attitudes within us to a certain degree. On the one hand the individual desires to achieve excellence, personal brilliance and fully accomplish their potential in whatever field. The idea of enforced conformity is synonymous with the suppression of  God-given gifts. Sometimes there seems nothing worse that having to abide by social norms which are not attuned specifically to our personalities, our hopes and dreams. We can gloomily anticipate a miserable and compromised existence. The Machine looms large with its stealthy combination of lethargy and inevitable acceptance and the individual longs to crush it. 

And yet the Flowers of this world come along and show us other things that seem more important, seem bigger, and seem worthwhile investing in despite all that. Family, friendships and relationships, the wider community, the Jewish people. These things can never be achieved alone. 

KP recognises the Flower position but thinks that these things can be achieved by leaving the individual to their own devices, to tread upon that path themselves. Flower sees the need to sacrifice the individual for the sake of the team not as a compromise but ultimately as a finer expression of that individuality. And the wheel goes round. 

So either KP is derided for being childish and selfish whilst he knows he is describing a painful emotional reality. Or Flower is called cruel, heartless and a happiness-drain whilst he knows that he selflessly dedicated himself for years for the good of the team. Different ways of seeing the world. Tension. The individual vs. the community, self-actualisation vs. the greater good of those around you. 

Perhaps I just take cricket too seriously. Either way, it is sad to see how miserable KP felt about the whole thing and how it seemed to overshadow all his accomplishments with the bat, in his own mind at least. It is very clear how this 'being misunderstood' shtick that he has complained of for years left him with a real sense of loneliness. In his final bow as a professional, the rather wistful words come to mind:

 You are right from your side and I am right from mine. It's been one too mornings and a thousand miles behind.

Or perhaps the angrier version from a live performance in 1976 in the midst of a relationship crisis is more appropriate:

You've no right to be here if I've no right to stay. It's been one too many mornings and a thousand miles away.