Kevin Pietersen Added To England Test Squad

Kevin Pietersen Added To England Test Squad

Kevin Pietersen (right) began his "re-integration" process earlier this month.

©REUTERS/Philip Brown. Picture Supplied by Action Images

As expected, England have added Kevin Pietersen to their Test squad for the forthcoming tour of India.

According to a statement from the ECB, "the decision was made after Pietersen met with (Head Coach) Andy Flower, (new Test captain) Alastair Cook and a number of other senior players in Oxford earlier this week." Those senior players are thought to have included James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad - among others.

Pietersen was declared to be eligible for selection again by the ECB following his axing over the "provocative" text messages that he sent to the South African team during the summer at a press conference in Colombo with ECB chairman Giles Clarke earlier this month.

He was told that he would have to undergo an extensive "re-integration" process, which included flying back from South Africa - where he is playing for his Indian Premier League side, Delhi Daredevils - to meet with Flower, Cook and senior players. 

These meetings have been declared "constructive and cordial" by ECB Managing Director Hugh Morris, who said, "We were keen that Kevin should hold a series of face-to-face meetings with team management and senior players before the Test squad departs for the UAE and India next week.

"The meetings were constructive and cordial and all outstanding issues have been resolved. All the England players and management are now keen to draw a line under this matter and fully focus on the cricketing challenge that lies ahead in India."

ECB National Selector Geoff Miller added, "We are pleased to welcome a player of Kevin’s proven international calibre back into the Test squad for such an important Test series.

"As we anticipate that Ian Bell will return home for the birth of his first child around the time of the second Test in Mumbai, the team will benefit from having an extra batsman in the squad and all players who were originally selected for the tour will fly out as planned next week. Kevin will join up with the squad as soon as his Champions League T20 commitments are complete."

The first of four Test matches for England on their tour on India begins on 15th November in Ahmedabad.

England Test squad: Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wicket-keeper), Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Nick Compton, Steven Finn, Graham Onions, Eoin Morgan, Monty Panesar, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior (wicket-keeper), Joe Root, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.

© Cricket World 2012