KEVIN PIETERSON NOT INCLUDED IN ENGLAND'S SQUAD FOR WORLD T20 2012

Kevin Pietersen's absence from international cricket continues after he was left out of England's squad for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka as well as the group for the one-day series against South Africa.

Michael Lumb, the Nottinghamshire opener, and Sussex allrounder Luke Wright, who were both part of the team that won the title in 2010, are recalled in the 15-man squad. Ravi Bopara, whose summer has been interrupted by personal problems, secures a place in both the T20 and one-day squads.

Stuart Broad, who captains England in Twenty20, has been rested from the one-day series against South Africa with the selectors feeling he will benefit from a break before leading the side next month. James Anderson, Broad's new-ball partner in Tests, does make the squad while Danny Briggs is the second specialist spinner.

Geoff Miller, the national selector, said: "Stuart Broad has an important period coming up leading our T20 side and with a three match series followed closely by the ICC World T20 we feel a two week break from cricket is in the best interests of both Stuart and the team.

"Kevin Pietersen's future involvement is still being determined and he was therefore not considered for selection in either squad."

England World Twenty20 squad Stuart Broad (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Craig Kieswetter, Michael Lumb, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright

Pietersen's omission was expected following the controversial last few weeks which included being dropped for the final Test against South Africa at Lord's. Although he apologised to the ECB for 'provocative' texts he sent to South African players during the Headingley Test the board have indicated there will not be any swift conclusion and return for Pietersen.

Andy Flower, the England team director, said: "It's a sad situation for everyone involved. He played superb in the last Twenty20 World Cup but the circumstances ayt the moment mean he can't be selected," he told Sky Sports News. "There are still issues unresolved and we will be addressing those when we have time.

"Let me be clear, this is not just an issue between the captain and Kevin. There are deeper issues, certainly of trust and mutual respect that need to be addressed. Those issues have to be resolved before there is anyway forward."

Pietersen was Man of the Tournament in the Caribbean when England won their first global trophy, but in June retired from limited-overs internationals after deciding to quit 50-over cricket which made him unavailable for Twenty20 under the terms of the central contracts. However, following the Headingley Test against South Africa he had a u-turn and via a video on YouTube made himself available for all international cricket before, the next day, being left out of the Test side.

Most of the players selected have been part of England's Twenty20 cricket this year, but Wright and Lumb both last played in June 2011 against Sri Lanka at Bristol. The pair enjoyed impressive Friends Life t20 seasons with Wright making 309 runs at a strike-rate of 161.78 while Lumb made 252 runs in eight matches.

Lumb formed England's opening partnership alongside Craig Kieswetter during the 2010 tournament in West Indies but his career took a slump, not helped by injury, following that event before his move to Nottinghamshire sparked a revival this season.

The same 15-man squad will face South Africa in three matches next month. England begin the defense of their title against Afghanistan on September 21.

KEVIN PIETERSEN DROPPED FROM ENGLAND SQUAD

 Kevin Pietersen has been omitted from the England squad for the final Test against South Africa at Lord's, the morning after releasing a video where he committed himself to all international cricket, because he has failed to confirm that he did not send derogatory texts about Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower to South Africa players during the Headingley Test.

It was an allegation, according to England's managing director, Hugh Morris, that unless unproven undermined "a unity of purpose and trust." Pietersen made no reference to the text messages in his video apology. Presumably he did send them and, by leaking the fact, South Africa have now contributed to the removal of the England player they most fear.

By dropping Pietersen, and dropping him in such an uncompromising manner, England have restated the absolute importance of the team ethic and will convince themselves that they have done all they can to avoid the circus that would have taken place if Pietersen had remained in England's Test side.

But the circus is in town, in any event - and the lack of England's No 1 celebrity cricketer is likely to be just as controversial.

It is Jonny Bairstow, who had an uncomfortable Test baptism against West Indies earlier this summer, and who returns in place of Pietersen after a century for England Lions against Australia A, who will bear the brunt of it.

Pietersen will now have to wait to see if he is selected in England's 15 for World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next month. That squad has yet to be announced, but that deadline is fast approaching and if he was critical of the likes of Andrew Strauss, his captain, and Andy Flower, the director of cricket, as has been alleged, then after a disastrous week Pietersen still has an awful lot of apologising to do.

England's insistence that the game is bigger than the individual, central to their rise (however temporarily) to No 1 in all three formats of the game, has never been more emphatically expressed. Pietersen's YouTube apology could hardly have been more clearly expressed, but even that video, published it seems without any prior warning to the ECB, seems to have gone down badly in high places.

Hugh Morris, managing director of England Cricket, said in a pre-prepared statement: "During the past week we have had several discussions with Kevin Pietersen and his advisers. Following a constructive meeting, it was agreed that a number of actions needed to be completed to re-engage Kevin within the England dressing room.

"A fundamental item was to confirm publicly that no derogatory texts had been sent by Kevin to the South African team. This has not been forthcoming despite clear timelines being set to allow the selectors to pick the squad for the third Investec Test match.

"We provided an additional six hours this morning to provide every opportunity for agreement to be reached but regrettably this has not been possible.

"The success of the England team has been built on a unity of purpose and trust. Whilst we have made every attempt to find a solution to enable Kevin to be selected we have sadly had to conclude that, in the best interest of the team, he will miss the Lord's Test."

England gave no live interviews to justify their stance, a growing tendency among the ECB hierarchy that is bringing increasing disquiet.

Geoff Miller, the national selector, avoided reference to Pietersen entirely, merely stating: "We need a squad fully focussed on this Test match to be able to play the sort of cricket we know is necessary if we are to win this week and level the series.

"The second Investec Test was a marked improvement on our performance at the start of the series but we are aware we will need to play some very good cricket this week if we are to level this series. There is plenty of international experience amongst this squad and they will all be determined to play to their full potential this week."

Pietersen attempted a career-saving performance in keeping with his flamboyant on-field displays by unconditionally committing himself to play for England in all formats of the game and apologising for the media conference that led to speculation about dressing room rifts and his premature retirement.

"I want to commit to all forms of cricket for England because I love playing for England," Pietersen said. "I am wanting to play all three forms of cricket again for England: the ODIs against South Africa in a couple of weeks and the T20 World Cup if I am selected. I want to make myself available for every single format of cricket for England.

But after putting back their squad announcement by five hours, to 2.30pm, England's selectors announced a squad without Pietersen, seeking stability and what they deemed normal behaviour above all other considerations.

Pietersen may now be expected to serve his penance for Surrey in the final stages of the County Championship, a return to the roots of English first-class cricket for which he has rarely shown much affection, with the prospect that he will be considered for England's tour of India later this year if he proves himself in a fit state to tour.

It might be a boon for Surrey who, troubled by the tragic death of Tom Maynard and grief-stricken resignation from the captaincy of Rory Hamilton-Brown, are in danger of relegation. It will be a character test for Pietersen that he will not welcome.

"I've realised what is important to be," Pietersen said in his YouTube appearance. "I've realised I can be happy. I've realised how much I love playing for England. I've realised that the last three or four days would be a sad way to go after all the happiness I've enjoyed. I'd hate to leave playing for England and I'd hate to leave all the spectators and fans this way.

"I am fully committed and passionate about playing for England. I want to play for England. That is why I want to get back playing in all three formats of the game for England. I love doing what I do and I don't want to disappoint people.

But that realisation has not brought automatic forgiveness. As much as he said "I can't wait to play in Straussy's 100th Test next week" that is one century he will elude him. As for England, if they do manage to break South Africa's hold and claim the victory to tie the series, never will the basics of team unity have been expressed more forcefully.

KEVIN PIETERSEN LINKED WITH BIG BASH LEAGUE DEAL

 Kevin Pietersen is believed to be considering a deal to play in the Big Bash League, with Melbourne Renegades and both Sydney sides - the Sixers and the Thunder - hoping to secure his signature.

According to reports in the Sydney Morning Herald, Cricket Australia is also considering employing Pietersen, the England Test batsman, in an ambassadorial role to help promote the competition. Such a move would help circumvent the league salary cap, with Shane Warne employed on a similar basis during the last BBL.

"We're aware that he is interested and we're aware that a couple of teams at least are talking to him, and we're very hopeful that he will sign with a team and play after Christmas," Mike McKenna, Cricket Australia's commercial general manager and the project manager of the BBL, said. "He is definitely one of the top three or four global cricket stars at the moment. He's an explosive batsman, can bowl, and he would bring a charisma to the Big Bash League that would excite us and excite the fans.

"The teams have a salary cap and it's up to them to make sure he's being paid well enough to justify him coming here to play; the issue for us is whether there's a role he can play in promoting the Big Bash League."

Pietersen, player of the tournament when England won the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean in 2010, announced his retirement from limited-overs international cricket at the end of May, citing a desire to rest and spend more time with his family. He was subsequently omitted from the 30-man preliminary squad for this year's World T20 - though he can be added to that squad without any complication up until August 18.

While England have no Test commitments in January - they will be engaged in an ODI tour of India - news that Pietersen is considering playing in the BBL will do nothing to dissuade those who believe his international retirement was motivated more by a desire to earn than a desire to rest. Certainly it would be hard to square his comments with his actions: Pietersen has taken several opportunities to criticise England's hectic international schedule and, only a few weeks ago, he insisted "I'm not playing the Big Bash".

Since then it also has emerged that he told the ECB that he would like to spend extra time playing in the IPL (which runs from April 3 to May 26 in 2013), threatening his involvement in next May's Test series between England and New Zealand.