‘Flower wanted me out’

LONDON. — Former England cricket batsman Kevin Pietersen says ex-coach Andy Flower “was always trying to find ways to get rid of me”. Pietersen was sacked in February by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), five days after Flower resigned.
“The ECB needed a scapegoat,” Pietersen (34) told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “Flower had it in for me ever since he took over.

“When they sacked me they never gave me any reasons. I still don’t know right now why I’m not playing for England.”

He added: “The ECB needed someone to walk, to depart from the team.”

Born in South Africa, Pietersen scored 8 181 runs at an average of 47 in 104 Tests and captained England in three Tests.

He also scored 4 440 ODI runs at 40.73, making him England’s leading international run-scorer overall.

In January, in the wake of the 5-0 Ashes defeat in Australia, Flower stood down as England technical director after almost five years in charge.

Pietersen had his central contract terminated by the ECB later that week following a meeting that also involved captain Alastair Cook.

When the announcement was made, ECB managing director Paul Downton said: “The time is right to rebuild not only the team but also the team ethic.”

Part of Pietersen’s sacking included a confidentiality agreement covering all parties, which expired at the end of September.

Pietersen, whose new book is published tomorrow, said he “didn’t have a great relationship” with Flower throughout his tenure.

He also defended his role in the 2012 text message scandal, when he was dropped by England for sending texts — reportedly about captain Andrew Strauss — to opposition players during the Test series against South Africa.

Although Pietersen apologised at the time, he told the Today programme on Tuesday: “I wouldn’t say I did anything wrong but I didn’t defend the position of Strauss.

“In the England dressing room I felt isolated, I felt like I was being bullied.”

Earlier this week, Pietersen told the Daily Telegraph Flower “ruled by fear” and that the coach and senior players oversaw “a bullying culture” in the dressing room. — BBC Sport.