Pietersen could earn recall for India Test tour
BATSMAN Kevin Pietersen is being considered for an England recall and could yet be selected for the autumn tour of India after the squad’s original announcement was delayed until Tuesday.
England’s tour party was scheduled to be revealed today but the England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed that it has been deliberately delayed so that the matter of Pietersen’s potential selection can be pondered.
That Pietersen is being considered represents a significant reversal in his prospects after it had appeared apparent that he no longer had a future with England. Though a talented player, his decision to send derogatory text messages about then-England captain Andrew Strauss to friends in the South Africa team – who were then contesting a Test series against England – led to his exclusion from the third Test and appeared to have concluded his international career, particularly when he was also omitted from Twenty20 selection.
Any momentum gathering for Pietersen’s potential return is thought to come from the new Test captain, Alastair Cook, as he prepares for his first Test tour since succeeding the now retired Strauss.
England’s last fixture of the summer last night finished as a success when they secured a 28-run victory over South Africa at Edgbaston to draw their Twenty20 series 1-1.
Craig Kieswetter and Jos Buttler respectively hit 50 off 32 balls and an unbeaten 32 off 10 as England secured 118-5 – against South Africa’s 90-5 – in a match that was reduced to 11 overs by the rain.