 | | Former captain Alec Stewart, Pietesen's decision to retire from ODI, and his subsequent perceived threat to give up playing Tests because of differences with the ECB..... |
London, Aug 12 (ANI): As England gears up for its third and final Test against South Africa, uncertainty looms over the selection of star batsman Kevin Pietersen. According to former captain Alec Stewart, Pietesen's decision to retire from one-day cricket, and his subsequent perceived threat to give up playing Tests because of differences with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the players, puts the onus on the latter to take and make the correct decision about KP's international cricket future. "The most time consuming and frustrating element of the selection meeting will have revolved around Kevin Pietersen. The KP scenario has rapidly developed since he suggested that the next Test could be his last," the Daily Mirror quoted Stewart, as saying in his column. "So, will they, or won't they pick KP for Lord's, and will it be the last time we see him in an England shirt?" he questioned. Stewart said that it is imperative that the England Cricket Board makes the right decisions because "everyone must understand that no individual is bigger than the team, or an organization, however good he may be." "There is history between England and KP, which dates back to when he was stripped of the captaincy after just three Test matches and nine one-day internationals, following a number of disputes with then team coach Peter Moores at the start of 2009," Stewart writes. He expressed hope that this ugly situation can be resolved amicably, as KP is a world-class player, whom cricket fans will want to still see perform on the international stage. "Whenever KP hangs up his bat and calls it a day, he should want to be able to look back on a fantastic career and have no regrets," Stewart said. (ANI) |