England name Lord’s Test squad, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806 axed – Cricket News Update
The England and Wales Cricket Board on Sunday named its squad for the third and final Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, commencing at Lord’s on Thursday. Prolific batsman Kevin Pietersen has been left out of the squad for the series finale over his allegations of sending derogatory texts to opposition players, an ECB statement said on Sunday.
“Whilst we’ve made every attempt to find a solution to enable Kevin to be selected we have sadly had to conclude that, in the best interest of the team, he will miss the Lord's Test,” stated managing director of England cricket, Hugh Morris.
Pietersen’s relationship with the ECB and the England team management hit the rock bottom after he allegedly sent derogatory texts about captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Flower-c44362 to South African players during the drawn Headingley Test.
Morris claimed that Pietersen was given ample time to prove the charges incorrect, but he failed to confirm that he did not send any controversial message to the rival team, or that the texts did not contain anything untoward.
“It was agreed (in a meeting) that a number of actions needed to be completed to re-engage Kevin within the England dressing room," explained managing director of England Cricket, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hugh-Morris-c63550.
"A fundamental item was to confirm publicly that no derogatory texts had been sent by Kevin to the South African team. This has not been forthcoming despite clear timelines being set to allow the Selectors to pick the squad (for Lord’s Test)."
It is pertinent to mention here that Pietersen, who had previously hinted that Lord's Test could be his final appearance for England, issued an apology over the weekend in which he recommitted himself to his adopted country across all formats.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, has been called up Pietersen’s replacement.
England currently trail South Africa 0-1 in the series and a slip-up at Lord’s would not only take the series away from them but will also allow the Proteas to topple them at the top of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Test rankings.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ST-Finn-c2566.
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