Dubai: England Test captain Alastair Cook has insisted it is ‘very unlikely’ Kevin Pietersen will ever return to the squad following the star batsman’s ostracising last year.
Pietersen has been overlooked by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) selectors ever since the end of the disastrous 2013/14 Ashes tour of Australia, where England were whitewashed 5-0 and the South Africa-born batsman was accused of being a divisive presence in the dressing room. Then Pietersen’s autobiography, released late last year, was critical of many in the England set-up and it was widely believed that had ended his chances of ever being considered again.
But hopes of a dramatic recall were raised when incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves said it would be hard to ignore Pietersen if he joined an English county side and started scoring plenty of runs.
The 34-year-old has responded by saying he’d do anything he could to return to the side.
But Cook said in Dubai on Wednesday: “I think it’s very unlikely.
“There’s been a hell of a lot of stuff happened, his book and all that kind of stuff. It’s quite a long way back for him.”
Pietersen had earlier on Wednesday told the BBC’s Test Match Special programme: “I would love to get county runs. I have expressed my interest in trying to get back into county cricket.
“If I can do anything that can help me get back into it for England then it’s something I want to do. I love playing for England.”
