Kevin Pietersen slams former England cricket coach Graham Gooch
Monday 6 April 2015 09:47, UK
Kevin Pietersen has laid into Graham Gooch for appearing to suggest his campaign for an international recall could be silenced with England winning in the West Indies.
Pietersen still harbours hopes of returning to the England set-up for the first time since the 2013-14 Ashes for this summer's showdown with Australia, spurred on by an apparent olive branch from incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves.
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But his talent for falling out with influential figures reared its head again on Sunday with former England coach Gooch telling the BBC: "The best thing England can do is to win well in the Windies and all these comments might go away."
Gooch, replaced as England's batting coach by Mark Ramprakash last year, also praised Pietersen for his off-field activities by stating: "I think him and his media team have wiped the floor with the ECB. He has won the media PR battle, his name is up in lights and he is looked at as the saviour of English cricket."
However, as England look to move on from their miserable World Cup on Monday with a two-day warm-up in St Kitts, Pietersen hit back at the criticism by arguing his own hopes of a recall were no less fanciful than Gooch's reintegration after leading the 1982 rebel tour to Apartheid-era South Africa.
Pietersen tweeted: "Graham Gooch - you captained a rebel tour of SA, got banned & then returned to the England team. I don't think I've done anything as bad!
"He shouldn't be commenting with his history! If anything, he should be saying there is always a way back!!!"
The 34-year-old is back with Surrey and is set to participate in his first net session of the season on Monday after being released from his Indian Premier League contract in a bid to return to county cricket to boost his England hopes.
England start their Test series in the West Indies. Watch live, 2.30pm, Sky Sports 2 on April 13
