England turn to Pietersen for India tour
ENGLAND have recalled controversial batsman Kevin Pietersen for the upcoming tour of India following talks with Andy Flower and Alastair Cook.
The coach and Test captain met Pietersen alongside other senior players to discuss his potential international future following the South Africa text messaging scandal but after recently signing a new England contract he is to finally return.
“The meetings were constructive and cordial and all outstanding issues have been resolved,” said Hugh Morris, the England team’s managing director.
“All the England players and management are now keen to draw a line under this matter and fully focus on the cricketing challenge that lies ahead in India.”
It was in August that Pietersen was dropped after the sending of “provocative” text messages to South Africa players about then-England captain Andrew Strauss during the summer Test series against the Proteas but it was an incident for which he later apologised and which the English Cricket Board accepted was not derogatory.
“We are pleased to welcome a player of Kevin’s proven international calibre back into the Test squad for such an important Test series,” said ECB national selector Geoff Miller of the player who is competing for the Delhi Daredevils in the Champions League in South Africa.
“As we anticipate that Ian Bell will return home for the birth of his first child around the time of the second Test in Mumbai, the team will benefit from having an extra batsman in the squad and all players who were originally selected for the tour will fly out as planned next week.
“Kevin will join up with the squad as soon as his Champions League commitments are complete.”
England are to next week fly to Abu Dhabi before the four-Test tour of India from 30 November, but it remains a possibility that Pietersen will not join them until their training camp in Dubai if Delhi’s Champions League participation continues until the October 28 final.
England’s first warm-up match is scheduled for Mumbai on 30 November, where they will also play the second Test.