Kevin Pietersen has been omitted from England's squads for the upcoming Twenty20 and one-day fixtures against Pakistan.
Batsman makes move to Surrey in bid to regain form ahead of Ashes
Kevin Pietersen has been omitted from England's squads for the upcoming Twenty20 and one-day fixtures against Pakistan.
The selectors have opted to leave out the batsman so he can, instead, play for Surrey, who he has joined on loan from Hampshire at the request of the England management team and the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Pietersen will make his Surrey debut on Wednesday in their Clydesdale Bank 40 fixture against Worcestershire, live on
Sky Sports HD3/3.
National selector Geoff Miller believes the move for the 30-year-old will provide him with an "ideal opportunity" to regain his form ahead of the Ashes.
Benefit
"Kevin Pietersen has been omitted from both squads as we feel that his game would be best served by getting as much cricket under his belt as possible before a long and challenging winter," Miller said.
"The remainder of the county season is an ideal opportunity to do just that and we thank Surrey for enabling Kevin the chance to play and we thank both Surrey and Hampshire for facilitating the loan period for the remainder of the county season.
"Kevin has proved on numerous occasions that he is a world-class player and we know he'll benefit from getting more time in the middle to work on his batting and get his game back to the level he has shown throughout his career."
Pietersen insisted he had "no issue" with the decision taken by the selectors.
"While I'm naturally disappointed to have been omitted from the England squad I fully understand the reasons why and will be doing everything I can to get back into the England team," he said.
"I have no issue with the selectors omitting me from the limited overs squads and my sole focus now is working on my game ahead of an exciting winter.
"I would also like to add my huge thanks to Surrey for giving me this opportunity and I hope I can repay them with some runs."
The other major talking point from the squad announcement is the selection of wicketkeeper-batsman Steve Davies.
The Surrey left-hander is included in the Twenty20 party alongside Craig Kieswetter, who will be playing as a batsman. The duo look certain to open in the shortest form of the game with Michael Lumb ruled out through injury.
Keeper change
However, Davies is the only wicketkeeper selected for the five-match NatWest Series, meaning Kieswetter has lost his place in the 50-over format.
"Steven Davies has had an excellent year for Surrey this season and has earned his chance to take on the role as wicketkeeper in England's limited overs set up," explained Miller.
"As ever the wicketkeeper's role is a fiercely contested position in the England team and we've no doubt Craig Kieswetter will continue to press for the chance to reclaim his place in the England ODI squad."
Paul Collingwood, who captained England to glory in the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean, will lead the side in the two Twenty20 games before handing back the reins to Andrew Strauss for the longer format.
Ajmal Shahzad has been selected for the one-dayers but will be available to play for Yorkshire when deemed suitable by the England management.
Meanwhile, Ian Bell will make his return from a foot injury for Warwickshire in their Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Nottinghamshire on September 4.
England squad for Natwest International Twenty20 series against Pakistan, starting September 5: P Collingwood (Durham, captain), J Anderson (Lancashire), R Bopara (Essex), T Bresnan (Yorkshire), S Broad (Nottinghamshire), S Davies (wkt, Surrey), C Kieswetter (Somerset), E Morgan (Middlesex), R Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), G Swann (Nottinghamshire), L Wright (Sussex), M Yardy (Sussex).
England squad for NatWest one-day series against Pakistan, starting September 10:A Strauss (Middlesex, captain), J Anderson (Lancashire), R Bopara (Essex), T Bresnan (Yorkshire), S Broad (Nottinghamshire), P Collingwood (Durham), S Davies (wkt, Surrey), E Morgan (Middlesex), A Shahzad (Yorkshire), R Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), G Swann (Nottinghamshire), J Trott (Warwickshire), L Wright (Sussex), M Yardy (Sussex).
