13 May 2015

Strauss says trust a huge issue with Pietersen

7:38 am on 13 May 2015

Batsman Kevin Pietersen will not play for the England team this year after the country's director of cricket Andrew Strauss says there was a "massive trust issue" between the two.

Former England international cricketer Kevin Pietersen.

Former England international cricketer Kevin Pietersen. Photo: Photosport

Strauss says Pietersen, who recorded a career-best 355 not out for Surrey yesterday, has not been banned from future England action.

The two met today and Strauss says the trust issue means Pietersen won't be considered for some time....

"Over months and years trust has eroded between Kevin Pietersen and the England Cricket Board."

"It's a fact, it's happened over a long period of time, we can't run away from it, I'm not apportioning blame it's just a fact."

"Everyone knows it."

34-year-old Pietersen was sacked in February 2014 and released an autobiography in October criticising several players, saying there was a "bullying culture" in the squad.

Pietersen reduced his Indian Premier League commitments this year to play for Surrey after incoming England Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves suggested an international return might be possible if he were to score runs in domestic cricket.

However Strauss told reporters in the Lord's pavilion it was time to be really open about the situation, explaining that while the South African-born batsman is a phenomenal cricketer, there was a massive trust issue between the player and the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Pietersen was sacked by England last year following a number of incidents that culminated in their Ashes whitewash in Australia during which he was accused of bring disengaged from the team.

34 year old Pietersen has made more than 8-thousand test runs, including 23 centuries, and he's England's highest run-scorer in all forms of international cricket.

Meanwhile the former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan believes the controversial batsman has been misled by the ECB, who suggested a return to the side was possible if he joined a county side and scored enough runs.

As a result Pietersen pulled out of a lucrative deal to play in the Indian Premier League.

Pietersen has responded to his snubbing in a column for the English newspaper the Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/kevinpietersen/11600580/Kevin-Pietersen-My-fury-at-England-deceit.html

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