Kevin Pietersen has been left out of England’s Test squad for the tour of India as the controversial batsman pays the price for the text message scandal that has left his international career in tatters. Pietersen was dropped for the final Test against South Africa after sending texts to opposition players that contained criticism of then England captain Andrew Strauss.
The South Africa-born star has since met England coach Andy Flower for clear-the-air talks, but there are still issues to be resolved and that meant there was no place for Pietersen on the plane to India. While Pietersen remains in exile at present, England cricket managing director Hugh Morris left the door open for the 32-year-old to return to the fold in the future. “Both ECB and England team management have had meetings with Kevin Pietersen to address the issues which led to his omission from the final Test match against South Africa,” Morris said on Tuesday.
“These discussions remain private and confidential and as there are issues still to be resolved Kevin has not been considered for selection for the India tour.”
Strauss retired from all cricket in the immediate aftermath of the Pietersen row and the fall-out from a stormy few months for English cricket continues to be felt.
Distracted by the controversy over Pietersen, England lost their place on top of the Test rankings to South Africa after being beaten by the Proteas in the recent series. There were also reports that Pietersen’s relationship with the rest of his England team-mates had deteriorated over recent months and it has proved impossible to resolve so much conflict in just a few weeks. Although the supremely-gifted Pietersen, who was also axed for the current World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka, would be a loss to any side, England batsman Ian Bell believes the team can cope without him. “I suppose it has rocked the boat a little bit but it doesn’t involve us as players, we don’t choose who is in the squad or the team,” Bell said.
“We’ve already seen the one-day team do well against South Africa and the Twenty20 team are on a real high too. So we’re not too worried about things.” Pietersen’s omission and the selectors’ decision to drop Essex batsman Ravi Bopara after a poor run of form this year paved the way for two uncapped batsmen to be included in Alastair Cook’s 16-man squad for the four-match Test series, which begins in Ahmedabad on November 15.
England must resolve Pietersen row: Hussain
Former England captain Nasser Hussain wants Kevin Pietersen and his international team-mates to resolve their differences after the controversial batsman was left out of the Test squad for the forthcoming tour of India. Pietersen has been in exile since sending text messages to South Africa players that contained criticism of then England captain Andrew Strauss during the recent Test series.
With reports circulating that Pietersen had also fallen out with several of his team-mates as a result of his behaviour, the South Africa-born star was axed for the final Test, the subsequent one-day series and the current World Twenty20 tournament. England managing director Hugh Morris claimed there are still issues to be resolved with Pietersen before he can return to the fold.
But Hussain believes both Pietersen and the England team are suffering as a result of the stand-off and he wants a peace deal brokered as soon as possible.
“Any issues, get them out in the open, sort it out and move on,” Hussain told Sky Sports News on Tuesday. “Whenever he comes back, maybe the sooner the better, the team have got to tell Kevin what their problems are with him and Kevin has to say what his problems are with the team. The sooner they kiss and make up the better.
“Kevin Pietersen has got to adhere to what (captain) Alastair Cook and Flower want. We are talking about good men. What they are doing is what they think is right for English cricket and if they think it’s best Kevin stays on the sideline I agree with them. “Kevin Pietersen needs England, no doubt about that. There are signs they made up, but maybe it is a little bit too soon.”
Hussain believes Pietersen’s absence from the team makes India firm favourites to avenge last year’s 4-0 Test series drubbing in England. “It’s a shame because any time you tour India you want the best cricketers and best players of spin,”
England can never make the loss of peterson
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