KP’s advice for Strauss

PIETERSEN: Star batsman sends an ambiguous message to former captain

Kevin Pietersen said one of the most important tasks for Andrew Strauss is to restore English cricket to its public, after a “treacherous 15 months”.

Strauss has yet to be appointed as the England and Wales Cricket Board’s new director, but has some timely advice from his former team-mate.

Strauss, the ex-Test captain who may be appointed England and Wales Cricket’s Board’s new director, will doubtless face a series of tough and high- profile decisions if he does rejoin the ECB payroll this summer.

One of them may be whether to “reintegrate” Pietersen for a second time, after his axing by the ECB following the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash.

Pietersen, who will be 35 by the time this summer’s rematch gets under way, has been given fresh hope of a recall after new ECB chairman Colin Graves hinted that runs in county cricket may yet provide him with a pathway back to the Test arena.

In those circumstances, it will be essential that Strauss and Pietersen are seeing eye to eye again.

Pietersen appeared largely on board when he offered his views, but included an ambiguous turn of phrase.

He said: “I hope Strauss and ECB bring the public back to the team after a treacherous 15 months.

“They owe it to the fans! He has some huge decisions.

“Hope he gets them right...”

Picture: PA. Kevin Pietersen has been given fresh hope of an England recall but will have to bury the hatchet with Andrew Strauss, above, to make this a reality.