LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron yesteray became embroiled in the row over the end of Kevin Pietersen’s (pictured) England career, saying there was a “powerful argument” in favour of the star batsman.
Pietersen was axed from all England duty on Tuesday, with officials at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) citing a need “to rebuild not only the team but also the team ethic and philosophy” following the side’s 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia.
But the departure of the gifted Pietersen, and in particular the ECB’s lack of clarity over why he was being jettisoned, has provoked a huge public backlash.
One of Pietersen’s most prominent supporters has been his friend, CNN interviewer Piers Morgan, who has been scathing of the decision to call time on his England career.
Morgan was previously editor of Britain’s Daily Mirror tabloid newspaper, a traditional supporter of the main opposition Labour Party and a staunch critic of Cameron’s Conservative-led coalition government. But Cameron, in an interview broadcast yesterday by BBC Radio Lancashire, said he found himself in “sympathy” with Morgan.
“I am an enormous fan of Kevin Pietersen and I have had some of my most enjoyable times watching him tonking the ball all over the park,” Cameron said. “His average (47.28 in Tests) is remarkable. It is not often I have sympathy for Piers Morgan but I thought he was making quite a powerful argument this morning on my radio. But I will let the England selectors pick the England team, I think I had better stay out of this one.”
Meanwhile, England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has defended himself against allegations that he undermined former coach Andy Flower during the disastrous recent Ashes tour of Australia before turning his back on Pietersen. Television personality Morgan, a friend of Pietersen, suggested on Twitter that the South Africa-born batsman was being made a scapegoat for falling out with Flower.
“Flower’s behaving like a headmaster, this is a schoolboy environment. F**K Flower! This is OUR team!’ - @MattPrior13 to England team,” Morgan tweeted.
Morgan described Prior as a hypocrite for siding with the players who were upset at Flower’s methods, but then stabbing Pietersen in the back when talking to Flower, who quit last week, about the issue. The accusations were denied by Prior, who was dropped for the final two Tests in Australia after a run of poor form.
“I don’t do this PR, spinning media rubbish,” Prior said on Twitter. “But I refuse to be attacked by a bloke that knows very little about what goes on in the England setup apart from rumour, gossip and hearsay from certain individuals (most of whom I’d take with a pinch of salt!!). Maybe I was recorded or ‘hacked’ but if not I’d like to see where these words I apparently said have come from?.” AGENCIES
