http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AJ-Strauss-c964 regrets airing dirty laundry in public – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806, saying that he regretted airing “dirty laundry” in public.
Kevin Pietersen, the 32-year-old Natal-born batsman, was on Sunday dropped from the squad to play http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Flower-c44362 and skipper
Strauss, to South African counterparts.
It was not only the texting scandal that cost the veteran his place in the English squad, despite scoring a match saving century in the previous Test, at Headingley. Pietersen had also complained of unrest and discrimination in the dressing room at an emotional
press conference after the Headingley Test, and had hinted at quitting Test cricket after Lord’s Test.
Strauss, who is all set to play his memorable 100th Test at Lord’s this week, said that he had never encouraged airing dressing room conflicts in public.
"I'm a big believer in not airing dirty laundry in public,” said the 35-year-old http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Middlesex-c817 star.
"It's one of our core values in our team that what goes on in the dressing room stays in the dressing room,” he added further.
The Transvaal-born left-hander said that Pietersen’s behaviour over the last one week came as a surprise to him, insisting that he never wanted to get involved into any such mess, but was forced to.
“I think the discontent that Kevin had with the board over his contract situation was one that the players didn't get involved in - and I didn't really get involved in,” said Strauss, who has so far led England in 49 Tests, winning 24 and losing only 10.
"But over the last week I’ve had to get involved, because there have been issues a little bit more central to his relationship with the other players and our ability to perform out in the middle," he added further.
Pietersen’s axing has come at a time when England are desperate to win their Test match against the resilient South Africans, to save their World No. 1 Test status, and many fear the Poms would fail to secure their Test ranking, without likes of KP.
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