This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/25/jason-gillespie-colin-graves-england-kevin-pietersen

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Colin Graves does not interfere with team matters, insists Jason Gillespie Colin Graves does not interfere with team matters, insists Jason Gillespie
(about 1 hour later)
Yorkshire’s head coach, Jason Gillespie, insists his outgoing chairman, Colin Graves, never interfered on matters of selection during their three and a half years working together and is unlikely to start doing so when he takes over at the England and Wales Cricket Board in May.Yorkshire’s head coach, Jason Gillespie, insists his outgoing chairman, Colin Graves, never interfered on matters of selection during their three and a half years working together and is unlikely to start doing so when he takes over at the England and Wales Cricket Board in May.
The 67-year-old millionaire Graves has caused a stir in the ECB offices ever since a radio interview at the start of the month convinced exiled batsman Kevin Pietersen to secure a route out of his Indian Premier League deal at Sunrisers Hyderabad and return to English cricket in the hope of an international comeback. The 67-year-old millionaire Graves has caused a stir in the ECB offices ever since a radio interview at the start of the month convinced the exiled batsman Kevin Pietersen to secure a route out of his Indian Premier League deal at Sunrisers Hyderabad and return to English cricket in the hope of an international comeback.
But speaking to the Guardian in Abu Dhabi on the day that Pietersen officially re-signed to play county cricket this summer at Division Two side Surrey, the former Australian fast bowler Gillespie maintains Graves, who steps aside as Yorkshire’s chairman this weekend, is not the sort to issue orders over who should be in the team.But speaking to the Guardian in Abu Dhabi on the day that Pietersen officially re-signed to play county cricket this summer at Division Two side Surrey, the former Australian fast bowler Gillespie maintains Graves, who steps aside as Yorkshire’s chairman this weekend, is not the sort to issue orders over who should be in the team.
“I can honestly tell you, in my whole time at Yorkshire, not once have Colin and I spoken about selection. Not once,” said Gillespie. “For me it is very simple - Colin did not say KP will play for England again, he simply said that to have any chance to play for England he needed to play county cricket. But that is the same for any player.” “I can honestly tell you, in my whole time at Yorkshire, not once have Colin and I spoken about selection. Not once,” said Gillespie. “For me it is very simple – Colin did not say KP will play for England again, he simply said that to have any chance to play for England he needed to play county cricket. But that is the same for any player.”
Graves and Pietersen have spoken since those initial comments and the news that they will meet next month prompted the Test captain Alastair Cook – who stands fully against a recall for the batsman – to seek out clarification from his incoming chairman. The Guardian understands he received no assurances that a Pietersen return was impossible, even though Graves backed the decision to cancel the player’s central contract in February last year.Graves and Pietersen have spoken since those initial comments and the news that they will meet next month prompted the Test captain Alastair Cook – who stands fully against a recall for the batsman – to seek out clarification from his incoming chairman. The Guardian understands he received no assurances that a Pietersen return was impossible, even though Graves backed the decision to cancel the player’s central contract in February last year.
Cook has been told to focus on next month’s three-Test series in the Caribbean. Graves has already publicly stating there “will be some enquiries” should England struggle against what he labelled a “mediocre” West Indies side. Those comments have added an extra layer of pressure on Cook, the head coach Peter Moores, the managing director Paul Downton and the national selector James Whitaker. Cook has been told to focus on next month’s three-Test series in the Caribbean. Graves has already publicly stated there “will be some inquiries” should England struggle against what he labelled a “mediocre” West Indies side. Those comments have added an extra layer of pressure on Cook, the head coach, Peter Moores, the managing director, Paul Downton, and the national selector, James Whitaker.
Meanwhile, Surrey are purring about the prospect of a fired up Pietersen helping their promotion drive in the upcoming season, starting at Glamorgan on 19 April. “A Kevin Pietersen with ambitions to play for England and a real determination to score big runs for Surrey will be a huge asset to us,” said Surrey’s director of cricket Alec Stewart, with the batsman himself adding: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be back.” Meanwhile, Surrey are purring about the prospect of a fired up Pietersen helping their promotion drive in the coming season, starting at Glamorgan on 19 April. “A Kevin Pietersen with ambitions to play for England and a real determination to score big runs for Surrey will be a huge asset to us,” said Surrey’s director of cricket Alec Stewart, with the batsman himself adding: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be back.”
For Gillespie, whose Yorkshire side – despite losing six of their players to England duty in April – go into this summer’s title defence brimming with confidence after a crushing nine-wicket victory inside three days over a strong MCC side that included Cook, there is no doubting the quality of the 34-year-old. For Gillespie, whose Yorkshire side – despite losing six of their players to England duty in April – go into this summer’s title defence brimming with confidence after a crushing nine-wicket victory inside three days over a strong MCC side that included Cook, there is no doubting the quality of the 34-year-old. “It got messy and that has been disappointing,” Gillespie said of the last 18 months of Pietersen’s career. “I don’t know KP well at all but I respected him as an opponent. When he faced us in 2005 he took the fight to us bowlers. I’d never experienced that before from an England cricketer, with the exception of Michael Vaughan in 2002-03.”
“It got messy and that has been disappointing,” Gillespie said in regards to the last 18 months of Pietersen’s career. “I don’t know KP well at all but I respected him as an opponent. When he faced us in 2005 he took the fight to us bowlers. I’d never experienced that before from an England cricketer, with the exception of Michael Vaughan in 2002/03.” Pietersen has revealed he is to donate his Surrey wages to his own foundation which has been set up to help under-privileged children “achieve and prosper”. “I always said this was not about money, and I will be donating my full Surrey wage to my foundation,” he said, while also emphasising that, once Graves hinted that his international career might not definitely be over after all, he felt he simply had to try.
Pietersen is confident he can work again with both Cook and Moores. Cook was present at the meeting when Pietersen’s contract was cancelled and Moores and Pietersen both lost their jobs as captain and coach in 2009 after an apparent power struggle.
“Even if this does not work out and I do not get back in the England team, I will at least end my career knowing I gave it another shot,” Pietersen added in his Telegraph column. “I would kick myself for a long time if I walked away now, without having a go. The public support since this all started has been incredible and helped make up my mind to pursue this chance to play for England again.
“All I am looking for is a fair opportunity to play for England again. I just want a blank sheet of paper, and to be judged on merit. I will be meeting Mr Graves face to face. I think he is open to discussing drawing a line in the sand in terms of what’s gone on.”