All hopes of recall killed: KP

London, May 13

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Star batsman Kevin Pietersen said he was “devastated” after being informed by newly-appointed England director of cricket Andrew Strauss that he would not feature for the national team over the home summer because there was a “massive trust issue”.

Strauss, in his first press conference since being appointed to the director role after the England and Wales Cricket Board sacked Paul Downton, stopped short of saying there was no way back into the international set-up for fellow former England captain Pietersen, adding: “He is not banned from the side but I can give him no guarantees for the future.”

But the South Africa-born batsman was given hope of an international recall when new ECB chairman Colin Graves said there could be a way back if he scored enough runs in county cricket.

Yet just hours after he made his maiden first-class triple century for Surrey yesterday, Pietersen was told by Strauss there was no prospect of him being selected by England in the immediate future — and in practice that may mean the end of Pietersen’s international career. “I am absolutely devastated that it looks like my hopes of an England recall have been brought to a close, especially given everything that has been said and asked of me,” said Pietersen in a furious attack in his column for The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

“They have used the word trust to justify not selecting me, well, trust is a two-way thing. I couldn’t believe just half an hour after I had my meeting, the result of it was on the internet and on the BBC airwaves.

“Now I certainly didn’t tell anybody, so who did? They say they don’t trust me but how can anybody trust them?”

Australia, are also puzzled by his omission and somewhat bemused by the saga as they prepare for this year’s Ashes series. Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris remains unconvinced that South African-born Pietersen will play no part in the Ashes. “I know that Strauss and him probably don’t get on, (but) I’m not going to believe it until we get over there and they pick their squad,” Harris said. — AFP