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Kevin Pietersen has been omitted from the England squad for the final Test against South Africa at Lord's, the morning after releasing a video
where he committed himself to all international cricket, because he has
failed to confirm that he did not send derogatory texts about Andrew
Strauss and Andy Flower to South Africa players during the Headingley
Test.
It was an allegation, according to England's managing director, Hugh
Morris, that unless unproven undermined "a unity of purpose and trust."
Pietersen made no reference to the text messages in his video apology. A
five-hour delay in naming the squad was to give Pietersen the chance to
confirm the content of the messages which he did not do.
Presumably he did send them and if South Africa leaked the fact they
have now contributed to the removal of the England player they most
fear.
A few hours after his omission, Pietersen released a brief statement.
"None of this constitutes the end of my career as an international
cricketer," he said. "To say I am gutted is an understatement... The
entire episode has been demoralising for me and my family.
"The video I released was my way to bring closure to the issues I had at
that time. I stand by every word I said in the video. I wish the team -
and Straussy in particular - every success next week."
By dropping Pietersen, and dropping him in such an uncompromising
manner, England have restated the absolute importance of the team ethic
and will convince themselves that they have done all they can to avoid
the circus that would have taken place if Pietersen had remained in
England's Test side.
But the circus is in town, in any event - and the lack of England's No 1
celebrity cricketer is likely to be just as controversial.
It is Jonny Bairstow, who had an uncomfortable Test baptism against West
Indies earlier this summer, and who returns in place of Pietersen after
a century for England Lions against Australia A, who will bear the
brunt of it.
Pietersen will now have to wait to see if he is selected in England's 15
for World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next month. That squad has yet to be
announced, but that deadline is fast approaching and if he was critical
of the likes of Andrew Strauss, his captain, and Andy Flower, the
director of cricket, as has been alleged, then after a disastrous week
Pietersen still has an awful lot of apologising to do.
England's insistence that the game is bigger than the individual,
central to their rise (however temporarily) to No 1 in all three formats
of the game, has been impressed in the most rigorous manner imaginable.
Pietersen's YouTube apology could hardly have been more clearly
expressed, but even that video, published it seems without any prior
warning to the ECB, seems to have gone down badly in high places.
Hugh Morris, managing director of England Cricket, said in a
pre-prepared statement: "During the past week we have had several
discussions with Kevin Pietersen and his advisers. Following a
constructive meeting, it was agreed that a number of actions needed to
be completed to re-engage Kevin within the England dressing room.
England squad for Lord's |
"A fundamental item was to confirm publicly that no derogatory texts had
been sent by Kevin to the South African team. This has not been
forthcoming despite clear timelines being set to allow the selectors to
pick the squad for the third Investec Test match.
"We provided an additional six hours this morning to provide every
opportunity for agreement to be reached but regrettably this has not
been possible.
"The success of the England team has been built on a unity of purpose
and trust. Whilst we have made every attempt to find a solution to
enable Kevin to be selected we have sadly had to conclude that, in the
best interest of the team, he will miss the Lord's Test."
Morris later added on Sky Sports News that Morris, Strauss and Flower
met Pietersen and his representatives on Friday evening, a meeting that
Pietersen fondly imagined had solved the issues. "We had a fruitful
discussion," Morris said. "We got on the table a number of different
issues that Kevin alluded to at his press conference the previous
Monday. We have been working through some of those issues."
Pietersen had attempted a career-saving video performance in keeping
with his flamboyant on-field displays by unconditionally committing
himself to play for England in all formats of the game and apologising
for the media conference that led to speculation about dressing room
rifts and his premature retirement.
"I want to commit to all forms of cricket for England because I love
playing for England," Pietersen said. "I am wanting to play all three
forms of cricket again for England: the ODIs against South Africa in a
couple of weeks and the T20 World Cup if I am selected. I want to make
myself available for every single format of cricket for England."
But after putting back their squad announcement by five hours, to
2.30pm, England's selectors announced a squad without Pietersen, seeking
stability and what they deemed normal behaviour above all other
considerations.
Pietersen may now be expected to serve his penance for Surrey in the
final stages of the County Championship, a return to the roots of
English first-class cricket for which he has rarely shown much
affection, with the prospect that he will be considered for England's
tour of India later this year if he proves himself in a fit state to
tour.
It might be a boon for Surrey who, troubled by the tragic death of Tom
Maynard and grief-stricken resignation from the captaincy of Rory
Hamilton-Brown, are in danger of relegation. It will be a character test
for Pietersen that he will not welcome.
"I've realised what is important to be," Pietersen said in his YouTube
appearance. "I've realised I can be happy. I've realised how much I love
playing for England. I've realised that the last three or four days
would be a sad way to go after all the happiness I've enjoyed. I'd hate
to leave playing for England and I'd hate to leave all the spectators
and fans this way.
"I am fully committed and passionate about playing for England. I want
to play for England. That is why I want to get back playing in all three
formats of the game for England. I love doing what I do and I don't
want to disappoint people.
But that realisation has not brought automatic forgiveness. As much as
he said "I can't wait to play in Straussy's 100th Test next week" that
is one century he will elude him. As for England, if they do manage to
break South Africa's hold and claim the victory to level the series,
never will the basics of team unity have been expressed more forcefully.
David Hopps is the UK editor of ESPNcricinfo
Feeds: David Hopps
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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