England fast bowler Stuart Broad says he would have no problem playing alongside Kevin Pietersen if the ECB backflipped on its decision to deny the controversial star a place in the Test side.
SEE ALSO:
Kevin Pietersen ruled out of England contention despite hitting triple century for Surrey
Steve Waugh: England must move on from Kevin Pietersen
(Video) Jimmy Anderson becomes England’s all-time leading wicket taker in Tests, but can’t prevent a disappointing draw
Pietersen was told by new England cricket director Andrew Strauss that he would not be selected for the upcoming Test series’ against New Zealand and Australia due to a breakdown of trust.
The South-African born batsman was sacked by England in February 2014 following the side’s 5-0 Ashes defeat in Australia after being told he was a disruptive presence in the squad.
Strauss and Pietersen have had their personal differences, and the former was forced to apologise after making an offensive remark about his former teammate during a TV broadcast.
The bad blood between the pair stems back to 2012 when Pietersen was found to be sending text messages about Strauss to the South African cricket team.
However, Broad said the reports of the divide between the current side and Pietersen were greatly exaggerated.
“I’ve genuinely not spoken to anyone above me or to anyone in the team about KP,” he is quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
“It doesn’t hurt me or anything, but when people try to put big divides between players and Kevin… I mean, we shared a changing room for eight or nine years. He’s helped me from time to time. We’ve never raised voices at each other. It’s almost perceived to be worse than it is between the players.”
The 28-year-old quick said he would be more than happy to play alongside Pietersen if he was handed a chance to return to the national setup.
“Down the line, and I don’t know what people are thinking, but if in five years’ time selectors decide KP is this guy they want back in this England side, if people have decided above me that he’s the right person to do that, then of course [he would be prepared to play alongside him].”
COMMENTS