The England cricket team has a new captain to lead them to Ashes glory next year. But could bold, brash, big-hitting Kevin Pietersen be, in any way, Jewish?
For:
Pietersen was born in South Africa but left to make a new life in Britain after objecting to the racial quotas being used in team selection. Hmm, so he's a refugee forced to flee because of race - sounds familar, doesn't it? He plays cricket which, being the most cerebral of all sports involving a ball, suits Jews very well. He has annoyed many of his peers for being too good and cocky with it. Jews annoy people. He and his wife, pop singer Jessica Taylor, have been described as cricket's Posh and Becks. David Beckham has Jewish blood, so you never know...
Against:
Actually, you do. Pietersen was born of an Afrikaaner father called Jannie and an English mother, so there's little that's Jewish in his background. The 28-year-old batsman is a world-class sportsman pre-eminent in his field, and not many Jews can say that. And his county is Hampshire - not the most kosher of counties.
Verdict:
Much as we would like English cricket to have a haimishe element at the highest level, Pietersen has us stumped.