article_snippet.sent: After an Ashes whitewash, Kevin Pietersen and head coach Andy Flower are sacked.
article_snippet.sent: After days of silence, the official line on Pietersen’s dismissal is that the ECB wanted to the ECBcreate a culture’ in which captain Alastair Cook had ‘the full support of all players’.
article_snippet.sent: Paul Downton and the ECB issue an apology to Kevin Pietersen for claiming Kevin Pietersen appeared
article_snippet.sent: Whether this makes a difference to Pietersen’s future remains to be seen.
article_snippet.sent: Clearly the removal of the man who sacked him and an ECB chairman Giles Clarke who was firmly against Pietersen must increase the odds on one of the most unlikely comebacks in sport history happening this summer.
article_snippet.sent: Much may depend on who replaces Downton because there is still no real appetite within ECB, and certainly not among senior members of the England team, for Pietersen to return.
article_snippet.sent: Pietersen best chance may be if Michael Vaughan is appointed by a man Pietersen is known to be close to in Graves.
article_snippet.sent: A more likely scenario is for another former England captain in Andrew Strauss to take up a role that would appear made for another former England captain in Andrew Strauss.
article_snippet.sent: Kevin Pietersen (left) could return for England while Andrew Strauss (right) is another that could take his role .
article_snippet.sent: Kevin Pietersen (left) was uncharacteristically coy when asked on Twitter for Kevin Pietersen (left) thoughts on Downton’s departure .
article_snippet.sent: Alec Stewart is another candidate who, presumably, would have a more open mind about recalling Kevin Pietersen (left) as Kevin Pietersen (left) has just re-signed Kevin Pietersen (left) for Surrey.
article_snippet.sent: Kevin Pietersen (left) is the third man on the most likely three-man short-list.
article_snippet.sent: The decision to ditch Pietersen was, as far as I am concerned, absolutely right while Hussain may yet prove to be the coach Downton and others
article_snippet.sent: Kevin Pietersen (left) .
article_snippet.sent: But Downton’s removal, and Giles Clarke’s departure, means the path is now clear for Kevin Pietersen (left) if Kevin Pietersen (left) scores runs for Surrey.
article_snippet.sent: (left) path is now clear to return if he scores runs for Surrey and Kevin Pietersen (left) tweeted just as much .