ECB sheds more light on KP axe

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Pietersen confirmed his England career was over on Tuesday after it was announced he would not be in the squads for the tour of the Caribbean and the ICC World Twenty20.

The ECB had been at great pains to make only the most careful public comment about the reasons for Pietersen's dismissal, prompting calls for transparency including from former England captains Ian Botham and Michael Vaughan.

And a statement issued jointly by the ECB and the Professional Cricketers' Association on Sunday evening read: "The ECB recognises the significant contribution Kevin has made to England teams over the last decade. He has played some of the finest innings ever produced by an England batsman.

"However, the England team needs to rebuild after the whitewash in Australia. To do that we must invest in our captain Alastair Cook and we must support him in creating a culture in which we can be confident he will have the full support of all players, with everyone pulling in the same direction and able to trust each other.

"It is for those reasons that we have decided to move on without Kevin Pietersen."

While seeking to bring clarity, the ECB statement raises further questions about the whole episode, with further speculation inevitable regarding the reasons for the organisation's lack of trust in Pietersen.

Specific details were conspicuous by their absence in the statement, which acknowledged "both parties remain bound by confidentiality provisions".

Pietersen, though, certainly has a history of clashing with authority figures in the England set-up.

He successfully lobbied in January 2009 for the removal of then coach Peter Moores, which also cost him his own position as captain.

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ECB sheds more light on KP axe