LONDON: England’s head coach Andy Flower yesterday said former cricket captain Kevin Pietersen (pictured) will be offered a new central contract.
Pietersen is currently on a four-month deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after he was not initially picked for the tour of India.
The batsman was dropped in August for sending ‘provocative texts’ about his team to South Africa players.
“The contract won’t be a problem. Kevin has been excellent in every way,” Flower told BBC.
Pietersen agreed a four-month deal in September to be part of the tour to India. He played an important role in England winning an historic first Test series victory on Indian sold since 1984-85.
Flower said the England team has moved on since the negotiations that brought Pietersen back into the fold.
“We did move on from it as soon as we had our meetings and everyone made a commitment to do so. We don’t all always get on with people all of the time - any of us in any walk of life - and everyone has made an effort to make it work.
“It’s been really good fun and he should be very proud of the way he’s operated out here, both as an individual and as a player,” he said.
Flower was impressed with Pietersen’s performance against India.
Pietersen struck a valuable century in the second Test in Mumbai that helped England bounce back in the series after losing the first Test in Ahmedabad.
“For him to score as quickly as he did there (Mumbai) and put such pressure on the opposition bowlers really helped us turn the series around. He’s been excellent in the field and in the dressing room,” said Flower.
While Pietersen has been included for the five ODIs against India, paceman James Anderson and batsman Jonathan Trott have been rested, in line with England’s move towards a more flexible selection policy.
Pietersen’s temporary retirement was in part down to a feeling that too much was being demanded of England cricketers and the message appears to have been heeded, and even extended to the management.
The ODI series will be Ashley Giles’ first in charge of the limited-overs sides, with Flower taking a more back-seat role.
“We want to make this new coaching structure work for English cricket like we did the three captains,” Flower said.
“It’s not gimmickry; we want to make the most efficient use of our resources and our personnel.
I think we’re lucky to have a coach of Ashley Giles’ quality taking over and we want some of his ideas and energy to assist in taking our limited-overs sides up a notch or two. We believe he can do that.” AGENCIES
