Nottinghamshire bowler Stuart Broad has brought fresh perspective to the debate surrounding Kevin Pietersen’s international exclusion by suggesting that dropping the former Nottinghamshire batsman rather than sacking him may have been a better course of action.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5Live, Broad stopped short of suggesting that Pietersen’s indifferent form and lack of game time warranted a re-call.
"It just became a bit of a media uproar, the whole sacking, it just seemed a bit unnecessary when every other player in the history of the game just gets dropped for poor form," said Broad.
"His form was pretty poor over 18 months, every other player just gets dropped. Obviously Kevin’s very disappointed with that and every player should be disappointed if you’re not going to represent your country again. It could have been handled very differently, I think, by everyone."
Pietersen’s mischievous streak was in full force when he told Australian broadcasters that he would be keen to step in for injured Australian Mike Hussey to captain a Primer Minister’s invitational XI against England.
He has maintained that he is available for England selection since his much-hyped pre-Christmas book promotion but the ECB have remained true to their assertion that his international career is over.
"He’s not played any red-ball cricket for a year so I don’t think a return in Test matches is very likely and he’s not set the world alight in white-ball format either," added Broad.
"The three Test matches we won in the summer against India were probably the strongest performances I’ve played in the 74 Tests I’ve played, and they were without Kevin Pietersen. The guys who have come in – Joe Root, Gary Ballance – have been the shining lights of the England team. When you lose a great player, younger guys come in and perform."
Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to take in what promises to be an absorbing contest and secure your seat now.