ECB reveal reasons for Kevin Pietersen's axing

Alastair Cook (L) and Kevin Pietersen

The England and Wales Cricket Board(ECB) has stated that a need for members of the English team to be “able to trust each other” meant that Kevin Pietersen could no longer continue to don the England shirt.

The ECB has been roundly criticized by everyone after failing to provide a reason for releasing Pietersen early from his central contract following the team’s disastrous Ashes campaign in Australia.

The board had earlier refused to delve into the reasons behind Pietersen’s axing with national selector James Whitaker only saying that “it is time to rebuild”.

However, the ECB in a joint statement with the Professional Cricketers’ Association on Sunday said :

“It has been a matter of great frustration that until now the ECB has been unable to respond to the unwarranted and unpleasant criticism of England players and the ECB itself, which has provided an unwelcome backdrop to the recent negotiations to release Kevin Pietersen from his central contract.

“Those negotiations have been successfully concluded and, whilst both parties remain bound by confidentiality provisions, the ECB would like to make the following comments. The England team needs to rebuild after the whitewash in Australia.

“To do that we must invest in our captain Alastair Cook and we must support him in creating a culture in which we can be confident he will have the full support of all players, with everyone pulling in the same direction and able to trust each other.

“It is for those reasons we have decided to move on without Kevin Pietersen.”

With the ECB failing to provide an explanation till yesterday, all kinds of stories were doing the rounds in the media. Wicket-keeper Matt Prior denied that he openly criticized coach Andy Flower’s methods, while Pietersen’s wife refuted rumours that Cook and Pietersen had squared up during the tour.

The ECB said: “Allegations have been made – some from people outside cricket – which, as well as attacking the rationale of the ECB’s decision-making, have questioned – without justification – the integrity of the England team director and some of England’s players.

“Clearly what happens in the dressing room or team meetings should remain in that environment and not be distributed to people not connected with the team.

“This is a core principle of any sports team, and any such action would constitute a breach of trust and team ethics.

“Whilst respecting that principle, it is important to stress that Andy Flower, Alastair Cook and Matt Prior, who have all been singled out for uninformed and unwarranted criticism, retain the total confidence and respect of all the other members of the Ashes party.”