Kevin Pietersen’s England career is over after he was told he is no longer part of the national team’s plans.
The 33-year-old batsman, England’s all-time leading run-scorer across all formats, was given the news by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
bbc
ECB managing director Paul Downton said: “The time is right to rebuild not only the team but also the team ethic.”
Pietersen responded: “I will continue to play but deeply regret that it won’t be for England.”
He scored 8,181 runs at an average of 47 in 104 Tests, in addition to 4,440 runs in 136 one-day internationals and 1,176 runs in 37 Twenty20’s.
“Playing cricket for my country has been an honour,” said South Africa-born Pietersen, who made his England debut in 2004.
“Every time I pulled on the England shirt was a moment of huge pride for me and that is something that will live with me forever.
“Although I am obviously very sad the incredible journey has come to an end, I’m also hugely proud of what we, as a team, have achieved over the past nine years. I believe I have a great deal still to give as a cricketer.”
England were whitewashed 5-0 by Australia in the Ashes Test series and Pietersen, his team’s leading run-scorer, was criticised for the manner of some of his dismissals.
He said last month he was “determined to help regain the Ashes” in England in 2015 and was included in a provisional 30-man squad for the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh, starting in March, when limited-overs coach Ashley Giles described him as a “million-pound asset”.
But the ECB have now decided he no longer has a future with England and are due to name their squad for the World Twenty20, plus a limited-overs tour of the West Indies that begins later this month, this week.
The ECB said that the England management, which includes Giles, Downton and national selector James Whitaker, agreed “unanimously” that Pietersen would not be part of their plans for those trips or beyond.
Downton, who took over from Hugh Morris on 1 February, added: “Clearly this was a tough decision because Kevin has been such an outstanding player for England, as the fact that he is the country’s leading run-scorer in international cricket demonstrates.
“However, everyone was aware that there was a need to begin the long-term planning after the Australia tour. Therefore we have decided the time is right to look to the future.”
The ECB’s decision, announced via a statement, brings to an end Pietersen’s brilliant but controversial career.
He is regarded by many as England’s best player – his tally of 23 Test centuries is second only to Test captain Alastair Cook in the all-time list – and only six players have played more Tests for England.
In his debut Test series in 2005, he helped England win the Ashes for the first time in 18 years, one of four Ashes triumphs in his career.
Appointed captain in 2008, he resigned after only five months following what the ECB described as an “irretrievable breakdown” in his relationship with then coach Peter Moores, who was sacked.
Pietersen was named player of the tournament as England won the World Twenty20 in 2010, their first major limited-overs trophy.
He retired from international limited-overs cricket in May 2012 before reversing his decision two months later.
The Surrey batsman was dropped during the Test series against South Africa that summer for sending “provocative” text messages to opposing players, for which he apologised to then captain Andrew Strauss.
Pietersen was overlooked for England’s World Twenty20 defence later that year and was added to the touring party for the winter trip to India only after a successful “integration period”.
The Ashes hammering down under was followed by reports of divisions in the England dressing room, but former spinner Graeme Swann, who retired midway through the series, claimed Pietersen’s behaviour had been “much improved” since his reintegration.
Shortly before he quit as team director last week, Andy Flower denied issuing the ECB with an ultimatum to choose between him or Pietersen.
Downton said: “England cricket owes a debt of gratitude to Kevin, who has proved to be one of the most talented and exciting players to ever represent the country and his 13,797 runs are a testimony to his immense skill.
“This decision brings some clarity now for the future of the England teams and we all wish Kevin the very best in the rest of his career.”
Kevin Pietersen’s International Career Statistics
| Tests | ODIs – T20s | ||
| Apps | 104 | 136 37 | |
| Runs | 8,181 | 4,440 1,176 | |
| Highest score | 227 | 130 79 | |
| Centuries | 23 | 9 0 | |
| Average | 47.28 | 40.73 37.93 | |
| Strike-rate | 61.72 | 86.58 141.51 |
Thank goodness that he was never selected for the Proteas. Talented player, but also very divisive in the change room.
Yes indeed.
England need to build for the future, so that when the split happens in world cricked, England can be assured of at least coming second in all 3 formats of the 3 team world competitions behind Aus but ahead of India.
At least all of the newfound wealth can go into development or recruiting young SAFFAS.
SA and the rest of the cricketing world should send the ECB, CSA and BCCI the middle finger and start a breakaway body.
Bunch of prima fooking donnas IMO.
1 @ Lion4ever:
Love him or loathe him Lion4ever one thing that is sure is that he was a match winner and a big part of the reason for England’s resurgence while it lasted. Pity that he seemed to want/need to be in the limelight so much but I guess it takes all sorts to make the world go round. Geoff Boycott must be chuffed, have heard him complain about Pietersen’s lack of application and reckless approach many times, he always wanted him to play more ‘sensibly’. Yes there were cases where we was in sparkling form and could have and should have gone on to make big hundreds only to throw it away with crazy shot selection, but that was the way he played and it made one of the top England batsmen for a long time. Possibly not in his nature to not be impulsive and so if he had tried to play more in the Boycott way he may never have reached the heights he did, interesting though is I think in more recent time he was playing more in this way and spending longer time at the crease building his innings, but there would still at some point be a lapse of concentration.
He can still play for a while so guess there is a lot to be made for him in IPL.
@ Scrumdown:
If SA and the rest of the cricketing world break away from the big three cricket wont last a year. A bunch of third world countries running cricket 2…
lol cheap movie, eventually all the talented players will be playing domestic cricket in one of those three countries.
CSA simply needs the BCCI, they are hmmm like that extremely sore limb you don’t want to get rid off, but that you still need to make a living, they ARE cricket.
Seems like Captain Cook had a part to play : “England captain Alastair Cook played an influential role in the decision to end Kevin Pietersen’s international career.
Cook was part of a three-man panel who met the batsman on Monday and told him of their decision.
Although some members of the England dressing room have no issues with Pietersen, the BBC has learned that Cook felt the 33-year-old’s departure was in the best interests of the team… the captain wants to mould a new team with a new culture for the next five years.
Pietersen was summoned to a meeting on Monday with Cook, new England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Paul Downton and chairman of selectors James Whittaker at the Danubius Hotel near Lord’s.
That was followed on Tuesday by a separate meeting involving Pietersen’s agent Adam Wheatley, Professional Cricketers’ Association chief executive Angus Porter and Downton to discuss the severance terms of his 12-month central contract that was signed in October …Pietersen, meanwhile, feels he was not given a clear explanation for his sacking despite asking Downton and Whittaker for justification during the brief meeting. BBC Sport has been told that he is angered by stories of stand-up arguments with Cook and rumours of his alienation from the team.
He admits to occasionally turning up late for meetings and feeling frustrated by England’s overly analytical approach, but points to his support for younger players and work with tail-end batsmen as examples of his commitment to the cause.”
Predictable from Geoff Boycott : Geoffrey Boycott … believes Pietersen’s batting at times set a bad example to his younger team-mates.
“We all remember his wonderful innings, but what about the daft things and the stupid shots?” he said.
“That has an effect on the dressing room and young players. How do you tell young players to play responsibly? It stops you from building discipline.
“You can be an individual within the team but you cannot just be an individual. He has said this is how I play, take it or leave it. Well they’ve taken it for long enough and now they’ve said thank you very much, we will leave it.”
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