MELBOURNE, Australia (ANI): Cricket legend Barry Richards has urged England officials and Kevin Pietersen to make peace, fearing a tragic loss for the game if the disgruntled England batsman is not able to make a return to international cricket.
Pietersen, 32, was dumped from England’s side for the third and final Test against South Africa at Lord’s last month for reportedly sending text messages to Proteas players about teammates, particularly skipper Andrew Strauss.
Strauss retired after the 2-0 loss of the series and No.1 Test mantle to South Africa and Pietersen belatedly apologised for the text messages.
While South Africa’s apartheid policy sabotaged supremely gifted Richards’ Test career, a fall-out with England coach Andy Flower shouldn’t end Pietersen’s international journey.
“I just think it is a tragic loss for world cricket, not just for England cricket or South African cricket,” News.com.au quoted Richards, as saying.
“I think it is difficult. You think back to Ian Botham, he was an enormous talent as well and I think you need to have a little bit of leeway for someone like that,” he said.
Richards endured the pain of international exile through politics, restricted to 508 Test runs at 72.57 in a 4-0 home thrashing of Australia in 1969-70.
It was still enough for Sir Donald Bradman to include the svelte South African opener in his dream XI.
Now, England teammates Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan have called for Pietersen’s reinstatement.
It is understood Pietersen met with Flower last weekend in London triggering hopes he could be reinstated for the November Test tour of India.