Pietersen saga could soon be over (From This is Hampshire)
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Kevin Pietersen England saga could soon be over
9:20am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Hampshire Sport
Kevin Pietersen
England team director Andy Flower is hopeful of a positive resolution to the Kevin Pietersen saga today or tomorrow.
The former Hampshire batsman has not played for England since making 149 in the second Investec Test against South Africa in August after a storm over his text messages to South Africa players which allegedly contained "derogatory" references to then England captain Andrew Strauss.
That saw him miss out on their failed World Twenty20 title defence, the upcoming tour of India and a central contract for the new season, but Flower is optimistic an agreement has finally been reached.
"The situation is ongoing. I think it's nearing an end now - in a positive way, I hope," he said.
"There's been a lot of formal communication between the ECB and Kevin, and there will be a press conference I would imagine in the next 36 hours which will enlighten you a little further."
The expectation of an imminent reconciliation has even led to speculation Pietersen could be added to the party travelling to India later this month.
Flower did not rule out such an eventuality but would not be drawn on the specific details of Pietersen's likely return.
"We don't close doors to anyone," he said. "If we get over that first stage first and get some of the formal legal proceedings out of the way, then we'll get on to the cricket thereafter."
England's top order, shorn of Pietersen's presence, failed to produce the runs required in Sri Lanka as the reigning champions' participation in the World Twenty20 ended at the Super Eight stage with defeat by the hosts yesterday.
And Flower admitted: "Last night was a quarter-final, effectively, and we weren't good enough to beat Sri Lanka on their home soil.
"There were little sparks of positive play but they were more streetwise than us and obviously deserved to win the game.
"It's sad that we're leaving this early, but that is the fact of life."
Comments(2)
sallyrdn
says...
2:13pm Tue 2 Oct 12
Of course we missed someone who can make big scores in Sri Lanka but we also missed openers who can stay aroung longer than a couple of overs. That was not due to KPs absence. That is a separate issue which needs to be addressed,fast. We need to regroup and move on.
Red_Rock says...
12:12pm Tue 2 Oct 12
It is no coincidence that every single team he has played for couldn't wait to get rid of him and his teammates in the England team were of the same mind a few weeks ago.
If Flower and Miller think that him saying sorry is going to change anything then they are deluded.