Cork calls for quick decision on Pietersen

The South Africa-born batsman said on Monday night that he could not give any assurances that the match at Lord’s might not be his last Test appearance, citing several “obstacles” that had to be overcome to ensure he would continue in the longest form of the game.

Sources close to Pietersen said that concern over the fake Twitter account KP Genius, which parodies the player, is not the major issue that needs to be resolved when it comes to deciding his international future, with the player understood to be keen to play an entire Indian Premier League campaign in 2013.

Former England all-rounder Cork, who captained the 32-year-old at Hampshire, said: “The ECB, (national selector) Geoff Miller, (captain) Andrew Strauss and (team director) Andy Flower have got to sit down and decide what is the best for the England cricket team.

“They have got to make a decision. They need to sit Kevin down and say ‘if you want to retire, you need to do it before we select the side for the third Test’.

“They have to say ‘if you feel isolated and the team isn’t with you, then we have to sort it out one way or the other’.

“They have to say ‘you either play, we get the players together, knock your heads together and get on with the game’ or they say ‘who is the next best player to put in Kevin’s place?’”

Cork added: “Whether it’s down to the ECB, selectors or Pietersen, obviously the relationships between those three are broken down.

“When a player after a Test says he is lonely and there are issues in the dressing room, it has to be addressed. You cannot push this under the carpet.”

Pietersen is understood to be “annoyed” by some of the tweets posted on the KP Genius Twitter account, which are meant to be read as though written by Pietersen himself and often talk about what a great cricketer he is.

But the main sticking point remains the level of commitment Pietersen is prepared to give to his adopted country and whether any compromise can be reached.

It is understood Pietersen wants to play a full season in the IPL for Delhi Daredevils which would earn him in excess of £1m.

The terms of his central contract – the current one runs out next month – do not permit that and there has been speculation as to whether Pietersen will sign a new one.

A source close to Pietersen said: “If people think Kevin won’t sign an England contract because someone has set up a fake Twitter account... Come on, do you really believe that? I don’t think so.”

But Cork has little sympathy for Pietersen if he is feeling upset over the Twitter issue.