Kevin Pietersen will not face England as Australian Prime Minister ignores plea
Sunday 11 January 2015 09:00, UK
Kevin Pietersen will not take on England this week after failing in his opportunistic bid to gatecrash a Prime Minister's XI.
The former England batsman declared himself "always available" on Saturday when it emerged Mike Hussey would not be fit enough to captain the Australian select side on Wednesday.
Pietersen later tweeted Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to the same effect, but Hussey's place has instead gone to Test opener Chris Rogers.
Abbott said: "It is disappointing that Mike Hussey won't be available to take his place as captain on Wednesday but I wish him a speedy recovery from his injury.
"I am pleased that Chris Rogers has accepted the invitation to take Mike's place as captain. Chris has a wealth of international and domestic experience, and after a successful Test series he is well placed to lead the team."
England's new one-day captain Eoin Morgan was not surprised to see Pietersen overlooked, saying: "I think it was very ambitious.
"It's a hugely prestigious game, for the Prime Minister's XI. To give an opportunity to somebody who is not Australian is pretty ambitious. When sides tour England and we put out Lions teams we give opportunities to our youngest and best.
"I don't think it would have spiced up the game at all. It doesn't really bother me."
