Kevin Pietersen has upset more than his fair share of teammates over the years, and one image shows they’re not in a hurry to be mates with him again any time soon.
Appearing together for Sky Sports at stumps on day two of the Lord’s Test, Pietersen and his former captain Andrew Strauss, wearing various shades of red in support of the Ruth Strauss Foundation as is now traditional for the Lord’s Test, were seen on camera with daylight between them, and no apparent desire to get any closer.
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The pair’s cold body language would be a remnant from their scandal-ridden playing days, which saw Pietersen eventually sacked for allegedly texting opposition players in the middle of a Test match.
Fans watching on couldn’t help but point out the frosty tension between the pair, a stark contrast to the jovial nature normally on display when Pietersen lines up alongside Ricky Ponting.
The height of turbulence in the England set up came in 2012, with the star batter caught sending derogatory texts about teammates Strauss and coach Andy Flower to opposition players during a Test match.
The texts reportedly referred to Strauss as a “doos” – an Afrikaans slang term broadly translating to an idiot, and reportedly also included information on how to get Strauss out.
In 2013, Strauss went public over the scandal, saying he felt “let down” by Pietersen in his autobiography.
Strauss, recalling his feelings, wrote: “The England cricket team are in crisis again. Coach Andy Flower and I have found ourselves in the middle of a destabilising and potentially damaging PR game between Kevin Pietersen, the England cricket team and the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board).
“I feel incredibly tired, as though I have simply run out of energy — I have nothing more to give. I am also wallowing in a rising tide of sadness. This is not the way I wanted my England career to end.
“I was dumbfounded. I wasn‘t all that bothered about him sending texts to a few South African players he knew quite well. I did, however, have issues with him criticising me to the opposition.
“That felt like talking out of school, not to mention giving the opposition a way to drive a wedge between Pietersen and myself and the team.
“From that moment, clear battle lines were drawn between Pietersen and the ECB, with both sides involved in a PR/legal battle to gain public support and cover themselves in the event of litigation.
“There were many involved with English cricket, including myself, who felt particularly let down.
“For me, he (Pietersen) had crossed the line. He seemed to be at best destabilising and at worst undermining our carefully cultivated team environment.”
It’s not the first time this Test match that Pietersen has seen his relationships with former teammates come to the surface, with his passionate monologue at tea on day two whacked by former fast bowler Steve Harmison.
Pietersen was livid at Ben Stokes’ England team being visibly friendly with the visiting Australians as well as not playing aggressive enough cricket, allowing the Aussies to reach 5 for 339 at stumps on day one.
Pietersen branded the English as “shambolic”, saying it “wasn’t good enough”, and that it was “not Ashes cricket”.
Steve Harmison hit back at his former comrade, telling talkSPORT that Pietersen’s views “wouldn’t be well received” by any dressing room.
“I don’t think it was justified,” Harmison said, discussing the views of both Pietersen and former England captain Michael Vaughan, who also criticised the current side.
“I think this team has had one or two bad days in 12-13 months.
“I think some of the stuff that they were having a go at them (for), too matey, I think there’s a time and a place.
“But they’re in the mainstream media, they’re paid to give their opinion, and I’m not going to knock Kevin for having his opinion – he’s always had it.
“He was always forceful with it, it wasn’t always warranted, it wasn’t always best received!
“I’m sure it wasn’t best received in the England dressing room (ahead of day two), it certainly wasn’t best received by the England dressing room when we were in it!
“But a few of us could say to Kevin, in no uncertain terms, to shut up.
“But he’s getting paid to give his opinion.”
Harmison said while Pietersen’s views had some merit, they were best expressed in hindsight, rather than after day one when there was “plenty of cricket to play”.
Heading into day four, after a calamitous capitulation that saw England lose their last nine wickets for 137 runs despite Australia being down a bowler courtesy of a calf injury to Nathan Lyon, Australia now lead by 221 runs with eight wickets in hand, firmly in the box seat to go 2-0 up in the series.
