London - Kevin Pietersen again indicated he'd been misled about the possibility of an international comeback when he said Saturday he had been offered a "clean slate" by incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves.
Andrew Strauss, the new ECB director of cricket and Pietersen's successor as England captain, said Tuesday that a "massive trust issue" prevented the South Africa-born batsman's return, even though Pietersen is England's all-time leading run-scorer across all formats.
That appeared to contradict earlier comments from Graves that a return was possible if Pietersen, sent into international exile 15 months ago after England's 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia, scored enough runs in county cricket.
Pietersen said two private conversations he had with Graves before the former Yorkshire chairman took up the equivalent ECB post reinforced that view.
The 34-year-old Pietersen's anger intensified as he was told by Strauss he would not be considered by England for the upcoming home Tests against New Zealand and Australia this season shortly after scoring his maiden first-class triple century, during Surrey's County Championship match against Leicestershire at The Oval.
Graves said Friday he "didn't make any promises" but appeared to be defending himself from a charge no one, including Pietersen, had made.
AFP
