LONDON — Kevin Pietersen has been left out of England's squad for the third Test against South Africa after selectors said he failed to give assurances over phone text messages he sent to the South Africans which allegedly criticized his own teammates. Pietersen, who scored 149 in the second Test, failed to make England's 13-man squad for the Test which starts at Lord's Thursday. Jonny Bairstow has been selected in place of Pietersen, whose involvement in the final Test at Lord's, which England must win to draw the series and retain its place on top of the world rankings, had been in doubt throughout a dramatic week. England Cricket managing director Hugh Morris said: “It was agreed that a number of actions needed to be completed to re-engage Kevin within the England dressing room. A fundamental item was to confirm publicly that no derogatory texts had been sent by Kevin to the South African team. This has not been forthcoming." Pietersen earlier in the day committed his future to England, just days after dropping a bombshell by suggesting that the third and final Test against South Africa might be his last. In an interview posted on YouTube Pietersen insisted: “I want to commit to all forms of cricket for England, because I love playing cricket for England. “I'm not going anywhere — I want to commit to all forms of cricket for England because I love playing for England," added Pietersen, who explained he wanted to provide “confirmation and clarity" regarding his situation. “Yes I'm wanting to play all three forms of cricket for England again," he said. “The One-Day Internationals against South Africa in a couple of weeks and the T20 World Cup hopefully if they select me in the final squad." It remains to be seen if the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will pick him for the upcoming one-dayers, especially September's Twenty 20 World Cup in Sri Lanka after he was left out of the provisional squad. On Monday he had stated: “I can't rule out that my next Test may be my last," after winning the man of the match award in the drawn second Test at Headingley after a superb innings of 149, which he followed up by taking three wickets. South African-born Pietersen's future had been a major issue before the series against the Proteas began. The 32-year-old had already announced his retirement from One-Day International cricket, amid speculation he wanted to be available for a full Indian Premier League program while still playing for England and play in the upcoming World Twenty20 in September. He also intimated Monday that “there are other points I am trying to sort out in the dressing room." On Saturday, he referred to his comments as “mistakes" and also confirmed he would not play in the whole Indian Premier League season with Delhi Daredevils next year and would make himself available for England, a sticking point with the ECB. “I've had a change of heart because... I love playing for England," he said. “It would be really sad to end my career like this." South Africa, gunning for England's world No. 1 Test side position, is currently 1-0. — Agencies
