Kevin Pietersen discards ODI retirement rumours
The stylish England batsman Kevin Pietersen has discarded speculations that he might bid adieu to One Day International cricket after the conclusion of the ICC World Cup 2011.
Media reports on Saturday morning claimed that the 30-year-old batsman wants to retire from ODI cricket in a bid to prolong his Test and Twenty20 career as well as to spend more time with his family.
But Pietersen denied the reports using the social networking website Twitter and said, “Just to set the record straight ... I have NO intention of retiring from ODI's after the World Cup!!”
The South Africa-born player debuted for England in November 2004 and has so far played 110 ODIs averaging 41.37.
Pietersen has been a vocal critic of the hectic schedule of England during the 2010-11 season which included the three-month long Ashes tour of Australia and will be followed by the six-week-long World Cup tour of the Subcontinent.
“Our schedule is ridiculous going into this World Cup,” Pietersen had said towards the end of the seven-match ODI series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749 lost by 6-1. “It has been for England teams for a very long time, and that's probably
why England have not done well in World Cups.”
Pietersen has been struggling for form in the ODI format of game over the past two years as he could manage only one half-century during the period. He was dropped from the ODI series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in August 2010 due to his poor
form but made a comeback to the side in the recently concluded series against Australia where he averaged slightly above 30 from 6 innings.
The England team returned home on Tuesday after spending more than 100 days down under and flew out to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 on Saturday.
The £375,000 Indian Premier League deal with the Deccan Chargers would force the right-handed batsman to extend his time abroad as the Twenty20 League is set to start right after the conclusion of the World Cup and will run until 22
May, 2011.
Tags: