so it was the saffas after all...
0
Sections Favourites Search
This site uses cookies. By
continuing to browse the
site you are agreeing to our
use of cookies. Find out
more here
07.10.12
Updated 18.27
Cricket
Kevin Pietersen text
controversy 'provoked' by
South Africa – ECB chief
• 'We should be above' falling
for such tactics, says David
Collier
• South African board denies
'anyone tried to rile KP'
South Africa players allegedly
provoked the text controversy
by sending messages to Kevin
Pietersen. Photograph: Paul
Gilham/Getty Images
Press Association
The Guardian, Sun 7 Oct 2012
13.19 BST
Related Sport
Kevin Pietersen
ECB
In Cricket
Next Australia edge out
England to claim
women's World
Twenty20 glory
Previous England blame nerves
as Australia have final
word in World
Twenty20
Sponsored features
Win a Cuisinart soupmaker! Plus:
exclusive recipes from
MasterChef 2012 winner Shelina
Permalloo
Discover new music and watch
great videos of your favourite
Bands in Transit artists
Mobile site | Desktop site
Text size A A A
Help
Contact us
Terms & conditions
Privacy policy
© 2012 Guardian News and
Media Limited or its affiliated
companies. All rights reserved.
South Africa's players
"provoked the situation"
which led to Kevin Pietersen's
exclusion from the England
team, according to the England
and Wales Cricket Board chief
executive, David Collier.
Pietersen was left out of the
final Test between the two
nations in the summer and
was then omitted from the
World Twenty20 squad
following allegations that he
sent text messages to members
of the South Africa team
during the second Test at
Headingley.
The 32-year-old apologised for
sending the messages last week
and signed a four-month
contract with the ECB after
the two sides agreed "a process
for his re-integration into the
England team".
Collier has shone further light
on what went on with the
texts, saying that Pietersen
was replying to messages sent
by the opposition which he felt
were unnecessary.
"That's our understanding," he
told BBC Radio Five Live. "I
have not seen those messages
and no one has kept those
messages. That's why it takes
some time.
"It is a very thin line between
fair and unfair. These were
responses to messages from
certain members of the South
Africa team and I would not
condone an England player
doing it if it was the other
way around, and I certainly
think they [South Africa]
provoked the situation."
However, Collier believes
Pietersen and the England
team should have handled the
incident better.
"There was definitely a policy
that was happening but we
shouldn't blame the South
Africans, we should be above
that," he said.
"I think there was a tactic
which was used. I think that is
sadly some of the ways of
modern sport. But, as I say, we
have plenty of people who are
strong in the dressing room
who provide very good
leadership who can deal with
those situations."
Asked about the content of the
messages, Collier added: "Those
messages were of a nature that
Kevin, with definite hindsight,
would have refuted straight
away and moved on. It is
trying to undermine another
team and another team ethic.
"There would probably be
mixed feelings [for South
Africa]. Certain feelings to say
that maybe it worked, [there]
might be other feelings that we
actually might have disrupted
a player and we would have
been unhappy had it been one
of ours."
Cricket South Africa described
the messages as "banter" when
the story first emerged in
August and a representative
has refuted Collier's claims,
saying: "That is rubbish. That
is not the case at all. No one
was trying to rile KP."
Collier says talks are ongoing
between Pietersen and the
England management and it
will be up to the team
director, Andy Flower, to
decide when he feels the
batsman should return to the
squad.
"When Andy Flower says to
me, 'I am ready to select this
player,' I would trust his
judgment every single time. If
the team director says he is
ready, that is good enough for
me.
"It takes two seconds to
destroy a building and it takes
a long time to build. It is the
same with trust, therefore we
have to have face-to-face
meetings.
"We have an Ashes series and
we don't want a divided
dressing room. We want to
make sure we can move
collectively."
Collier hinted that Pietersen
will meet various members of
the England team in order to
mend fences.
"People can't build
relationships without meetings
– that is the starting point," he
said. "They will happen this
month and [the ECB chairman]
Giles Clarke met Kevin earlier
this week.
"That meeting was described
by both sides as cordial –
direct but cordial.
"It is important to be honest
and say our concerns and
allow Kevin to say what his
concerns were."
Author
Topic: KP having another hissy fit...... (Read 31361 times)