‘My regrets over end of KP’s career’
ALASTAIR COOK expressed his regret yesterday at the way Kevin Pietersen’s England career was ended, but made it clear he was not the only one responsible. In the summer of 2012 Pietersen was suspended for the third Test against South Africa after he sent texts to members of the opposition side criticising captain Andrew Strauss. Pietersen was later reinstated to the squad, but his recall caused division until he was dropped two years later. ‘Of course there are decisions in hindsight that you question,’ he said. ‘Clearly the KP affair was a tough year. The fallout of that wasn’t great for English cricket and wasn’t great for me. ‘I was involved in that decision without being the bloke who actually made the final call. ‘It could have been handled differently. ‘The moment Andrew Strauss came on board and said he was making the decision (to leave Pietersen out) was the best thing that could have happened for me. I do have regrets over it. ‘The Sri Lankan series (which England lost in 2014) and Lord’s
(defeat in the second Test against India later that summer), that was the lowest I was. ‘It was really tough but I didn’t throw the towel in. I still thought I was the best man for the job. But it wasn’t easy. ‘I could have taken the easy option but I didn’t. And I got the reward — no, that sounds selfish, the team did — of winning the 2015 Ashes. That was brilliant.’