Selection criteria forces Pietersen’s retirement
Batsman to focus on Tests, not to play ODIs, T20s anymore.
LONDON:
Kevin Pietersen retired from all forms of international limited overs cricket yesterday, a decision which took the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) by surprise.
Pietersen, who will continue to be available for Test selection, said that he wished to step aside in order to give the next generation of players a chance to bed in before the 2015 World Cup. He added that an ECB rule that forced all centrally-contracted players to make themselves available for all forms of limited-overs cricket was also a factor.
“After a great deal of thought and deliberation, I’m today announcing my retirement from international one-day cricket,” said Pietersen, who turns 32 next month.
“With the intensity of the international cricket schedule and the increasing demands on my body, approaching the age of 32, I think it is the right time to step aside and let the next generation of players come through to gain experience for the ICC World Cup in 2015.
“For the record, were the selection criteria not in place, I would have readily played for England in the upcoming ICC World Twenty20.”
Pietersen has scored 4,184 runs at an average of 42 in One-Day Internationals and averages 38 in international T20 cricket
His decision was greeted with dismay by ECB managing director Hugh Morris.
“Thee ECB is disappointed by the timing of Kevin’s decision less than four months before we defend our World Twenty20 title,” he said. “Kevin is a world-class player and I would like to thank him for his efforts and we look forward to his continued contributions to the Test side.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2012.
Kevin Pietersen retired from all forms of international limited overs cricket yesterday, a decision which took the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) by surprise.
Pietersen, who will continue to be available for Test selection, said that he wished to step aside in order to give the next generation of players a chance to bed in before the 2015 World Cup. He added that an ECB rule that forced all centrally-contracted players to make themselves available for all forms of limited-overs cricket was also a factor.
“After a great deal of thought and deliberation, I’m today announcing my retirement from international one-day cricket,” said Pietersen, who turns 32 next month.
“With the intensity of the international cricket schedule and the increasing demands on my body, approaching the age of 32, I think it is the right time to step aside and let the next generation of players come through to gain experience for the ICC World Cup in 2015.
“For the record, were the selection criteria not in place, I would have readily played for England in the upcoming ICC World Twenty20.”
Pietersen has scored 4,184 runs at an average of 42 in One-Day Internationals and averages 38 in international T20 cricket
His decision was greeted with dismay by ECB managing director Hugh Morris.
“Thee ECB is disappointed by the timing of Kevin’s decision less than four months before we defend our World Twenty20 title,” he said. “Kevin is a world-class player and I would like to thank him for his efforts and we look forward to his continued contributions to the Test side.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2012.