“I believe I have a great deal still to give as a cricketer. I will continue to play but deeply regret that it won’t be for England.” Was the statement given by Kevin Pietersen after he learned that he wouldn’t play for England again on Monday by a three man panel including his now former captain Alastair Cook. Kevin Pietersen had recently commented before the Ashes tour when asked whether or not it’d be his last for England that he was committed to the England team up to and beyond the 2015 World Cup. He also stated that he wanted to tour South Africa as it is the only major test nation that he hasn’t scored test hundreds with home and away.

The end of a maverick, the end of a genius, call it what you like. But it has been confirmed that Kevin Pietersens roller coaster of an England career has now come to an end, amid reports of him attempting to lead a players revolt agaisnt the coach and ‘squaring up’ to Alastair Cook. Although former team mate Graeme Swann who retired during the Ashes series stated “I saw nor heard no issues with him in Australia this winter, his approach was exceptional.’

Many people had speculated on Twitter that with the big changes going on within the ECB at the moment that it would be beneficial for the team to appoint Pietersen as Cook’s vice captain to get away from a culture of boring cricket. 

Kevin Pietersen has always been know as a loose cannon by nature and his aggressive stroke play epitomises the man perfectly. The modes of his dismissals during the Ashes tour down under have been brought into question, falling to meticulous plans that play on his ego. Although Pietersen was England's highest run scorer during the series many people were disappointed with some of his reckless shots that got him out in situations when he needed to knuckle down for the best of the team. 

It is common knowledge that Pietersen has been divisive within the team environment before, his career could well have been over 18 months ago after he scored a magnificent 149 against South Africa, when it emerged that he had been texting friends in the South African camp in a derogatory fashion about his captain and team mates. Once Strauss had retired and Alastair Cook was made captain, Pietersen was reintegrated back into the England set up. 

Former England captain Alec Stewart speaking in his BBC Sport column said “We didn’t hear much about Pietersen whether he was doing things right or wrong. As soon as we lose and it was a right hammering, everyone’s now pointing their fingers at Kevin and that I find is unfair.” 

Michael Vaughan, who captained Pietersen during the 2005 Ashes triumph has said “It’s a great loss for the game and it’s a lose to the England team with the unpredictability that he brings to the cricket field.”

The facts behind what happened during the tour which has resulted in Kevin Pietersen’s England career ending may never come to light after James Whittaker today refused to divulge the exact reasons behind his sacking. One thing is for sure and that is that without the genius of Kevin Pietersen the England team won’t be as strong but may well be a more harmonious place. 

If Pietersen was as divisive within the team environment as some say then maybe it is better for the team for him not to be there as it brings the morale of the camp down, which stops players from performing at their optimum level. But if it is just his well documented ego then Cook and the rest of the management team should have tried harder to manage their best player. 

It is almost certain that this is not the last that we will see of Kevin Pietersen though. He will most likely become a freelance T20 player, playing in various leagues around the world like Brad Hodge and former England team mate Owais Shah. With the IPL auction fast approaching Pietersen will be a highly sought after commodity now that he will be available for the entire tournament.