Pietersen apologises over texts - Report
Kevin Pietersen has reprtedly issued an apology to the ECB
Kevin Pietersen has apologised to the England and Wales Cricket Board for texts sent to opposition players during the Headingley Test, it was reported on Tuesday night.
As another day in the ongoing Pietersen controversy drew to a hectic close, there was still no confirmation from the ECB that Pietersen had acceded to their request to either deny the existence of the texts or apologise for them.
But former England captain Alec Stewart told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm hearing he's now apologised but hasn't had any confirmation back from the ECB."
Hours earlier, Pietersen's present Test captain Andrew Strauss had become the third England player to have his say on a vexed matter yet to be resolved.
Strauss spoke of his regret that Pietersen "aired dirty laundry in public" as his contract wrangles escalated to Twitter and text-message intrigue, and eventually in him being dropped for the must-win Lord's Test against South Africa.
The ECB were also forced to issue a statement in which Stuart Broad denied any involvement in the parody Twitter account which so upset Pietersen.
At lunchtime, Tim Bresnan's turn had come first to voice his bemusement at the events of the past week - and give his "100%" backing to the ECB for being strong enough to drop Pietersen, even when the stakes are so high for a match in which England must beat South Africa to share the Investec series and therefore stop their opponents taking away their world number one status.
Strauss himself appears to have been taken aback that the saga over Pietersen's contract impasse this summer with the ECB, following his shock retirement from limited-overs internationals in May, should suddenly have moved into overdrive.
South Africa-born batsman Pietersen's inability, after the drawn Leeds Test, to provide reassurance Lord's would not be his last match for England led many to conclude there and then his career for his adopted country was in jeopardy.
That remains the case, particularly after the text messages he is alleged to have sent - containing derogatory remarks about his own team-mates, or otherwise - to South Africa players.
related stories on msn
The oldest cliche in the book says something about there being 'no i in team' and Pietersen needs to learn this.
He is one of the best batsmen in the world, and on the headingly performance an underused bowler (!?!) but that is not enough if he can not fit into the team.
He did not fit in at Notts or Hants and it will be interesting to learn what the Surrey boys think of him when he leaves them (I take it he will be playing for them more now he isn't playing for England (me thinks not)).
This could be a premature retirement, but it comes to us all or we would still have Botham opening up at 1 end and batting 6!
K Clarke you are spot on, No one man is bigger than cricket, When is K P going to learn about being a team player, we know he's one of the best batsman in the world, But England will be there longer than K P.
I feel sorry for the team, thier's enough pressure to win this game, This is when you need your team to pull together and have that Bulldog spirt, It's about team work K P you idiot.
Well done to the selectors on making a very difficult decision.
Hopefully K P can try and learn from this!!!!!!!!
Too big an ego for a team game. Too greedy for a true sportsman. His talent will wane over the next few years, he will be retired and forgotten. The ECB should have the backbone to drop him now, and permanently. The british public are, as ever, forgotten in these debacles. How can we be proud of our team under these circumstances. Look at the sports people at the olympics many of whom scrimped for years just to have the chance for one big performance. Our cricketers (and footballers for that matter) should be ashamed of themselves, and I for one will be following their exploits with less interest in the furture. The man hits a leather covered ball with a piece of wood and for this he becomes a Diva. What a fool.
Shame and very unprofessional attitude from both sides. If first test lost because our team could not bowled S A then this goes to worse leadership qualities and tactics overall. Me as cricket lover can't understand why our bowling attack was so helpless, this is the issue and if some remarks are passed then should be ignored, take positive of it. K P is not involved in doping, match fixing, spot fixing or any other criminal act. If some criminal act has happened is poor capitancy in first test, wonder how come number one become lower grade bowling attack.
Come on Kiv get real you were not wanted by S.A to play for them for you were not
good enough to play for them and you were less than WHITE. England gave you a
wonderful chance and you treated us as the blacks in SA in the days gone by you are
full of **** wake up your use by date is over so go back to SA or be quiet The England
will do a lot better without you.
