Is this really the end of Kevin Pietersen in first-class cricket?
Surrey’s match against Lancashire in the English County Championship petered out to a tame draw, and Pietersen was not even needed to bat in the second innings.
One innings, two runs and three balls over four days was the grand finale for Pietersen in first-class cricket. He will not play in Surrey’s next Championship match, against Leicestershire at Grace Road on Sunday, and it is highly unlikely he will ever play red-ball cricket again. He will, however, play for Surrey in their T20 game at Arundel next week just before heading to the Caribbean Premier League.
Pietersen rejoined Surrey in the belief that he could reintegrate himself into the England set-up after his ignominious sacking at the end of the disastrous Ashes tour in 2014.
He had been led to believe that if he committed to county cricket and scored runs, the door was open. That was immediately squashed when Andrew Strauss was appointed England’s director of cricket, and announced there were no short-term plans for Pietersen. And that after scoring 355 for Surrey against Leicestershire. Once again, he is cast out into the world of IPL, Big Bash and Caribbean T20.
Alec Stewart, the Surrey director of cricket, holds high hopes: ‘What I’m saying is, it’s not the end,’ he said. ‘I’m not saying “that’s it, the door’s shut”. It’s always open here for him. At the same time, we’ll have discussions to see what fits for us and what fits for him.
‘He has gone above and beyond the original verbal arrangement. It was great that he wanted to play, and it shows that he has respect for us and the dressing room here. We have good respect for him too.’
Elsewhere, Jacques Rudolph needed just 29 runs to secure Glamorgan’s second win of the season.
Glamorgan were required to score 56 after bowling out Northamptonshire for 269 in their follow-on innings. Rudolph and William Bragg (26) got the job done in 20.5 overs. This win follows their 89-run over Essex after four draws from their first four matches.
Gareth Berg stood firm, batting at No 8, to deny Worcestershire at the Rose Bowl. Worcs drove on to 403, a lead of 181, and needed quick wickets on the last day. They were looking good at 83-4, but the shutters went up and Berg played his part, seeing off 68 balls.
Rikki Wessels’ Nottinghamshire beat Sussex by159 runs after bowling them out for 150 in their second innings.
Compiled by Mark Salter
