Andrew Strauss describes retired Kevin Pietersen as 'best' England player he has played with

Sport360 staff 14:52 23/03/2018
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  • The pair had recently buried the hatchet.

    Former England skipper Andrew Strauss has described Kevin Pietersen as the ‘best’ England player he has ever played with. The latter had called time on his professional career after his outing in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) last week.

    The pair, during their time in England colours, had a breakdown in relationship following Pietersen’s texts to South Africa players in the middle of a series in 2012. Strauss then effectively ended Pietersen’s England career three years into his elevation as the director of cricket for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

    The two have recently buried the hatchet and Strauss has now paid glowing compliments to the South African-born batsman upon his retirement.

    “I think the first thing to say is we’ve had our differences over time and they’ve been well-documented. But thankfully they are very much in the past now,” the ECB director told the BBC.

    “It is definitely the time for us to appreciate what he did in an England shirt. He was a magnificent player and for me, he was the best England player that I played with.

    “(He was an) unbelievable talent and he deserves for us to remember those special days he had in an England shirt and he can go off into retirement feeling pretty happy and comfortable with what he’s achieved in the game.”

    In 2014, Strauss had cited a ‘breakdown in trust’ as the reason for Pietersen’s international banishment, following a 5-0 Ashes whitewash at the hands of Australia. The latter was on course to become England’s record run-scorer in Test cricket at the time, and never played again for the country, instead plying his trade in the numerous T20 leagues which have popped up across the globe.

    Only recently, Pietersen had declared that his feud with his former team-mate was over following Strauss’ wife Ruth being diagnosed with cancer in December last year.

    “I’ve actually spoken to him quite a few times in the last couple of months. Cricket, and all the stuff that happened is gone, it’s insignificant because families are a lot more important,” Pietersen had said.

    “I’m good with Straussy. I just wish Ruth all the best and hopefully Ruth can pull through. She’s a fighter.”

    In 104 Tests for England, Pietersen scored 8, 181 runs at an impressive average of 47.28, registering 23 tons in the process.

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