Pietersen back on England duty

Kevin Pietersen is in Birmingham, less than a week after announcing his retirement from limited-overs international cricket, to fulfil his duty in the only format for which he remains available as England seek an Investec Test series whitewash over the West Indies.

James Anderson, with near equal resonance, is not here to try to add to his nine wickets in two home victories to date – thanks to England’s rotation policy. Coach Andy Flower was so exercised by that topic, and the whys and wherefores already muttered about the resting of Anderson, that he arranged an extra press briefing yesterday to spell out the England and Wales Cricket Board’s position.

Before that, it fell to Jonathan Trott to become the first of Pietersen’s England team-mates to speak this week on the mercurial batsman’s decision to forego any future in either 50-over or Twenty20 internationals. Trott voiced his “huge disappointment” that Pietersen will no longer be available in either of the ‘World Cup’ formats, adding it is up to the man himself to come to terms with his change of path. “I don’t think you can help someone who’s made a personal decision.”

Similar qualms were voiced in some quarters too about Anderson’s willingness to sit out a Test in which he could reasonably add to his tally of wickets.

England’s selectors believe, though, that they are protecting a prize asset – with a packed and high-profile schedule to come – by resting the fast bowler, who finished last week’s Trent Bridge Test nursing a minor thigh injury.