Pietersen kept out of India tour

Compton, Root receive maiden call-ups

 Star batsman Kevin Pietersen was on Tuesday left out of the 16-member England squad for the Test tour of India following the bitter text message scandal involving his national team-mates, leaving his international career in jeopardy.

Pietersen was embroiled in a bitter controversy after revelation that he sent text messages to members of the South African touring squad containing derogatory remarks about then England captain Andrew Strauss.

Pietersen was subsequently dropped for the final Test against South Africa at Lord’s. He was also left out of the England squad of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka despite making himself available for all forms of cricket. Last week Pietersen was not handed a central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), a clear indication that problems still exists.

Talks are, however, going on between Pietersen and the ECB although the batsman is currently in Sri Lanka working as a TV pundit during the World Twenty20.

In order to clear the air, he also had talks with coach Andy Flower and captain Alastair Cook — mediated by the Professional Cricketers’ Association.  Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, said there were issues to be resolved with the the 32-year-old South Africa-born batsman.

“Both ECB and England team management have had meetings with Kevin Pietersen to address the issues which led to his omission from the final Test against South Africa. These discussions remain private and confidential and as there are issues still to be resolved. Kevin has not been considered for selection for the India tour.”

England will have an inexperience batting line-up in the absence of Pietersen and now retired Strauss. In their place, Somerset’s Nick Compton and Yorkshire’s Joe Root have received maiden Test call-ups while Eoin Morgan returned to the fold.

The four-match Test series against India starts on November 15 in Ahmedabad, before subsequent matches at Mumbai, Kolkata and Nagpur.