The former South Africa captain Graeme Smith has labelled English cricket a laughing stock in the wake of the decision to maintain Kevin Pietersen's international exile.
England's new director of cricket, former national captain Andrew Strauss, stated Pietersen would remain in the international wilderness, with the South Africa-born batsman having been dropped from the England squad ever since the Ashes lost last year.
Strauss, whose final months as England captain in 2012 were clouded by provocative texts sent by Pietersen to Proteas players, said a "massive trust issue" lay at the heart of his decision.
Pietersen, had been given hope of a Test return when new England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves said he would be considered if he made enough runs in county cricket.
But just hours after he scored a maiden triple century for Surrey, Strauss met with Pietersen to tell him to forget about playing for England this season.
Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith has labelled English cricket a "laughing stock." Photo: Photosport
"I see the head boy is making English cricket the laughing stock again! .StraussLogic", Smith Tweeted.
Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who played in the same 2005 Ashes-winning side as Pietersen, said players became more mature as they got older.
"I thought Pietersen was to play again he should fight his way back in which he has, as for personality he can be high maintenance then again so was I, but you do grow up and change," Flintoff Tweeted.
Meanwhile, several former England captains criticised the way in which Pietersen had been given the incentive of a recall only to have it taken away.
"I don't often feel sorry for Kevin Pietersen - but having been told by the chairman-elect to go and score runs in the County Championship if he wants to get back in the England side, Kevin's been sent on a wild goose chase," Bob Willis told Sky Sports.
Willis's view was endorsed by Nasser Hussain, who said there had been a "shambles of mixed messages coming out of the ECB".
