Road back to international stage will be long for Pietersen

The South Africa-born batsman was dropped for the must-win Lord’s Test which starts today against his native country for failing to apologise for texts sent to opposition players during the drawn match at Headingley.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have been particularly concerned as to the content of those messages and whether they were derogatory in any way about Pietersen’s own team-mates or captain Andrew Strauss.

England’s preparations have therefore been compromised for a match in which they must beat South Africa to draw the series and retain their world No 1 status.

Strauss inevitably found himself responding to the latest developments in the Pietersen controversy on the eve of his 100th Test on his home ground.

In his captain’s press conference, Strauss’s exasperation was clear as he admitted to feeling “let down” by Pietersen, who has been replaced by Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow for the Test.

His caution was also notable as he described an apology sent by Pietersen’s agent via lawyers to the ECB late on Tuesday night as the “first step” in a situation where time will have to be part of the healing process to try to ensure lost trust is rebuilt.

Pietersen, thought to be abroad on holiday, can therefore be left in little doubt that he is very much on the outside of the England team and faces a long road back – one that will not be trodden before England must confirm their final 15 to the International Cricket Council on Saturday to travel to Sri Lanka for the World Twenty20.

“I feel a little bit let down by Kevin, if I’m honest,” said Strauss.

“But this isn’t an issue between me and Kevin. It’s a broader issue than that and it’s very important that I act in the best interests of England cricket team.

“It’s not a personal thing. I’ve always got on very well with Kevin, which is why some of the stuff has been quite surprising to me.”

With stakes so high at HQ, Strauss cannot afford anyone in his team to be distracted by a saga which has run through the summer – in the form of Pietersen’s contract wrangles with the ECB – but suddenly went into overdrive when the mercurial batsman put the continuation of his England career in jeopardy by refusing to provide assurances that Lord’s would not be his last match.

In the event, he has not even got this far. If the 32-year-old is to return for his adopted country at any point, it seems his first acknowledgment of apparent contrition may have begun the process – but nothing more.

The team ethos so highly prized by Strauss and coach Andy Flower – and threatened by Pietersen’s shenanigans – remains key.

“I think the catalyst for all this was obviously Kevin’s press conference after the Headingley Test match ... up to then it was a dispute between Kevin and the board,” said Strauss.

“But once the players become involved in it I become very protective of that environment – of the values by which we live and treat each other – and I’m willing to remain vigilant about that because I think it’s central to why we’ve become a very good side.”