Pietersen will bounce back: Kallis

South Africa’s Jacques Kallis believes Kevin Pietersen will bounce back after his dramatic omission from the England Test side for this week’s series finale against the Proteas at Lord’s.

England’s selectors made their decision to drop Pietersen following reports he sent text messages to several South Africa players during the drawn second Test at Headingley that were believed to contain derogatory comments about captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower.

Pietersen made a superb 149 at Headingley and averages nearly 50 in Test cricket, yet neither of these factors were enough to spare him the axe. However, Kallis is certain this is not the end of Pietersen’s international career. “I’m sure they’ll sort it out,” Kallis said at Lord’s on Tuesday. “He’s too good a player to stay out of the international scene. I’ve no doubts they’ll come to an agreement and something will be sorted out.

“These sorts of things are going to happen throughout his career, a few things have happened. I don’t think it’ll affect him, I think he’ll bounce back and I think he’s still got a lot of cricket ahead of him.”

Kallis, 36, said Pietersen’s absence left England with a big hole to fill. “He’s a world-class player and he’s proven that over many years and put in big performances for England so I’m sure he’s going to be missed, but England’s got some good players as well.”