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Kevin Pietersen’s England cricket career is over.
The 33-year-old former captain, whose talent has regularly been overshadowed by his ability to attract controversy, discovered he was being dropped after meeting team management on Tuesday.
He was not selected for the ODI tour of West Indies and the subsequent World Twenty20 tournament.
“Although I am obviously very sad the incredible journey has come to an end, I’m also hugely proud of what we, as a team, have achieved over the past nine years,” Pietersen said in a statement.
“I believe I have a great deal still to give as a cricketer,” he added. “I will continue to play but deeply regret that it won’t be for England.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board is trying to usher in a new era after a woeful tour of Australia where England were beaten 5-0 in the Ashes and won just one limited-overs game.
By dumping Pietersen, the ECB said it hoped to “start the rebuilding process”.
“Clearly this was a tough decision because Kevin has been such an outstanding player for England – as the fact that he is the country’s leading run-scorer in international cricket demonstrates,” said Paul Downton, the England team managing director.
“However everyone was aware that there was a need to begin the long-term planning after the Australia tour. Therefore we have decided the time is right to look to the future and start to rebuild not only the team but also team ethic and philosophy.”
Pietersen has been accused of being a divisive influence within the England dressing room several times since he made his debut in 2004.
But he went on to play 104 Tests, 136 one-day games and 37 Twenty20 fixtures for England.
“We all wish Kevin the very best in the rest of his career,” Downton said.
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