Ian Botham wants an early end to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806-ECB row - Cricket News Update
England legend, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749 Cricket Board (ECB), surrounding the former’s retirement controversy which has taken English cricket by storm, and wants both parties to resolve their issue ahead of the crucial Lord’s Test starting next Thursday.
Former England all-rounder was particularly disturbed over the media coverage of the issue which has blemished the reputation of English Cricket, its players and administrators.
"They should not be airing their dirty linen in public. Those sort of things should be dealt with in private between the people involved, not in the open in the run-up to a huge Test match," Botham wrote in his column in the Daily Mirror.
England middle-order batsman, Pietersen, put a question mark over his Test career during the post-match press conference of the second Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, which ended in a draw. The outspoken batsman hinted at his differences with the ECB and a possible rift with the team management.
The 32-year-old remained the star of the show at Headingley, striking a dazzling century (149) at to salvage his side from a precarious situation. He later picked up three key wickets to instigate an unlikely comeback on the final day.
Pietersen announced his retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket in May, following ECB’s reluctance to allow him play in only the T20 format. That spat turned for worse after his meeting details with the cricketing board was leaked to the media.
Concerned over the shifting of focus, Botham wants an early end of the entire issue to help the England team, which is fighting to win the series and save their top-spot on the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Test rankings. The 56-year-old legend believes that all parties involved need to sit down instead of making a mockery English cricket in public.
“This group of people should have already got together and tried to get it sorted. The management is paid to manage and the players are paid to play,” Botham wrote. "It reflects poorly on the team, poorly on the game and poorly on everyone involved. It must be sorted out like grown-ups."
The third and final Test of the Investec series will be played at Lord’s from Aug 16.
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