DUBAI // It remains unthinkable Kevin Pietersen will be restored to the England side for the Ashes, despite the continued problems of the team’s middle-order batsmen.
That is the view of Adam Gilchrist, the former Australia wicketkeeper who was in opposition when Pietersen made his Test debut in the 2005 Ashes series.
Gary Ballance and Ian Bell have each come under scrutiny after registering just 79 runs in eight innings between them in England’s drawn series against New Zealand. Pietersen is a topical alternative choice to replace either of them in the starting XI for the series against Australia this summer.
Read more:
– Graham Gooch hopes retired players take Masters Champions League in UAE seriously
He made the highest first-class score of his career earlier this summer as he struck an unbeaten 355 for Surrey against Leicestershire, only to be immediately told he still does not feature in England’s plans due to a breakdown in trust between him and his erstwhile teammates.
“There is no doubt about it, KP has been a world class player and is still producing some very impressive results,” Gilchrist said in Dubai on Wednesday.
“Regardless of opinion, it seems like the book is closed now,” as Andrew Strauss, England’s director of cricket, and the England and Wales Cricket Board “have made that call”.
“The reality is he is not there. Our guys will start favourites, we have a very strong line up at the moment, particularly in the seam department.
“Batsmen score the runs but Test cricket is all about taking those 20 wickets and I think our guys are well positioned for that.”
pradley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
