CRICKET: New England Test captain Andrew Strauss may not have to decide how to accommodate his predecessor in the team as soon as he thought after Kevin Pietersen decided today to "to take some time out" from the game.
The 31-year-old Strauss will be hoping to unite the England team once again via closed-door meetings following the public fall from grace of Pietersen, while stamping his authority on a role he previously held in a temporary capacity.
Pietersen, who needed a police escort to avoid reporters at Heathrow Airport this morning, had intimated his desire to continue his international career uninterrupted following the Lord's meltdown, but today he released a curious statement upon his immediate future.
It read: "In light of recent events between the ECB and myself, I'm going to take some time out to reflect on the situation and spend time with family and friends."
Earlier, Strauss, a safe pair of hands for the England and Wales Cricket Board to turn to and a man former coach Duncan Fletcher used to call a solid citizen of the dressing room, spoke confidently about the 28-year-old's commitment to the team.
But there are dressing room relationships to address with urgency after Pietersen's relationship breakdown with coach Peter Moores - sacked on Wednesday - exposed disharmony within the England set-up.
Stung by a lack of support from his senior colleagues and bosses alike over an ultimatum to remove Moores as coach, bridges will need mending as Pietersen returns to the ranks after only three Tests and five months in charge.
"We all know what a quality player KP is and I back him to score runs consistently any time," said Strauss, at his Lord's unveiling. "Clearly he is a vitally important part of the team and we need to make sure that he is comfortable within the team environment and that any issues that need to be dealt with between players are dealt with.
He added: "All the players need to get into a room together at some stage, for all sorts of reasons: for me to be able to lay down what I believe is the way forward, for the management team to be able to have their view on things and for people to be clear in their minds what we are going to be about as an England team."
Strauss, who previously led England during the four-Test series against Pakistan in 2006 as a fill-in for the injured Michael Vaughan, contacted Pietersen after being offered the position.
"I have spoken to Kevin a couple of times already," Strauss confirmed. "It's been a very tough situation, he has some stuff to deal with at the moment, and I fully believe everything he did as the England captain he did because he thought it was the best thing for the England cricket team.
"I know him well, he's a good mate of mine, and he has said he will support me. I truly believe he will do.
Ultimately, it has left England seeking a new coach after Moores' position became untenable.
Strauss appeared regretful regarding Moores' exit, reflecting upon the 'effort, enthusiasm and determination' shown during his 20-month tenure, and the integrity, subsequent to the rift becoming public on New Year's Eve.
"Towards the back end of the India tour, there were signs that Kevin and Peter weren't getting on as well as they possibly could," reflected Strauss. "But there was a lot on our minds apart from the dressing-room situation and there certainly weren't signs that their relationship was as strained as it seems it had been.
"But we must now look forward; playing and winning cricket matches, that is our primary concern, and I am sure that is going to unite us."
PA