Gary Ballance ’ s hundred looks to have closed the door on an England return for Kevin Pietersen in the near future . That is the view of former captain Andrew Flintoff — with Ballance , Ian Bell and Joe Root surely all now secure in the middle order for the summer . Former Ashes hero Flintoff believes Pietersen is now ‘ running out of time ’ to resurrect his Test career . He will be 35 on June 27 , before the home Ashes series starts . Gary Ballance produced an outstanding display with the bat against West Indies on Thursday . Ballance , Ian Bell and Joe Root 's form my have shut the door on a Test return for Kevin Piertersen ( above ) Flintoff said : ‘ He ’ s a fantastic player , but nobody just walks into any team — especially the England team . ‘ Which of the batsmen do you say “ you ’ re not playing ” for Kevin to come in ? I can ’ t imagine it ’ s going to be in the near future. ’ Flintoff did give his full backing to struggling captain Alastair Cook , who has had a double failure with the bat in Antigua . ‘ He ’ s one of the all-time England greats , ’ said Flintoff . ‘ And you get the sense everyone within the set-up wants him as captain . He ’ s a popular lad. ’ Andrew Flintoff ( left ) believes Pietersen is now ‘ running out of time ’ to resurrect his Test career .
Gary Ballance , Ian Bell and Joe Root are forming a strong middle order . The England batting line-up is as good as it has been for some time - Alastair Cook at No. 8 with Ben Stokes, James Anderson and Moeen Ali in the lower order. England exile Kevin Pietersen will be 35 on June 27 .