Andrew Strauss has told Kevin Pietersen his England exile will continue despite the batsman’s strong domestic form.
The ECB’s new director of cricket saw the controversial 34-year-old hit top form for Surrey with a career-best 336 not out on Monday but still insists there is no way back.
Pietersen was axed by England in February 2014 but opted to play county cricket this summer in a bid to return to the England Test team.
The South African-born star has certainly done his talking off the pitch over a recall before backing his words up out in the middle against Leicestershire.
However, the problem with selecting Pietersen runs far deeper than his form with the bat in hand.
Strauss, who has been drafted in by the ECB in a bid to revive England’s fortunes, told Sky Sports: “Nobody has doubted his ability as a player, his record stands up in cricket.
“But over months and years the trust between him and the England and Wales Cricket Board has eroded.
“There is a massive trust issue between me and Kevin, I wish it wasn’t the case. Because of that we decided it was in the best short-term interests for him not to be part of the team.
“I can’t give him any guarantees but nobody knows what will happen in the future.”
England next take on New Zealand in a two-Test series as they continue the build-up to the Ashes against Australia later in the summer.
England are 3.75 to reclaim the Ashes from the tourists who are 1.44 after whitewashing the Three Lions Down Under in the last series.
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