adminLONDON. — England cricket 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.
Pietersen scored 8 181 runs at an average of 47 in 104 Tests for England. Cook, who succeeded Andrew Strauss as captain in August 2012, brought Pietersen back into the England fold after he had been dropped for sending provocative text messages to South Africa players.
But following England’s disastrous 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia, during which Pietersen was criticised for repeatedly falling to reckless shots, 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.
On Tuesday evening, the ECB sent out an official press release in which Downton, who had the final say on Pietersen’s departure, stated: “The time is right to rebuild not only the team but also the team ethic.”
Pietersen, meanwhile, feels he was not given a clear explanation for his sacking despite asking Downton and Whittaker for justification. He is now reconciled to his England career being over and does not want to stay where he is not wanted.
Although there is no written condition that Pietersen will never be allowed to play for England again, it is believed to be highly unlikely that he could ever be recalled. Indeed, whoever is chosen to replace Zimbabwean Andy Flower as England team director is likely to be informed that the South Africa-born batsman is not available for selection.
The decision to jettison England’s highest international run-scorer has been questioned by former captains Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart.
Vaughan, who captained Pietersen in the 2005 Ashes success, wants the ECB to explain their decision.
“I really do think the ECB and the people involved have to give us the reason exactly why they got rid of Kevin Pietersen,” he told BBC Radio 5 live.
“You hear of rumours that he’s been a nuisance around the dressing room but it was only last week that Graeme Swann, who’s been in that dressing room for the last few years with Kevin Pietersen, said ‘yep, in 2012 and the South Africa series, the text-gate story, he was a problem, but once they reintegrated him he’s been fine, he’s had a great attitude’.
“Then England get rid of him on apparently cricketing reasons and that’s the guy that scored more runs than anybody else in the Ashes series. It’s a sad day for cricket.”
Vaughan believes that Flower’s replacement should have been the one to make the decision about Pietersen and that the batsman has been punished for speaking his mind in team meetings.
“A new director of cricket will be appointed in April and won’t have the opportunity to pick a star player,” he added. “They should be making those decisions on their own.
“Kevin will speak his mind. If there’s an issue within the side he will go straight to the coach and say these are the things we need to sort out and maybe Andy Flower didn’t like what KP was saying and that’s why they’ve got rid of him.” — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter