England will not allow the shadow of Kevin Pietersens increasing desire to revive his international career to dominate preparation for the three-Test series against the West Indies, according to coach Peter Moores.
Fourteen months on from being sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Boards, Pietersen is attempting to break back into the fold in time for the Ashes series against Australia but was omitted from the touring party to the Caribbean.
Pietersens future continues to cast a shadow over Englands preparations for a series that comes less than a month after a humiliating pool stage exit from the World Cup but Moores insists the countrys international run scorer is not being discussed.
For me Kevins not on this trip, so I dont need to focus on Kevin at all, said Moores. My focus is to support Alastair [Cook] as I always would and the 16 players on this tour.
At the end of that summer [in 2014] wed gone through a tough summer, and started to play the sort of attacking cricket people like, and we like. Thats our focus at the moment. From my point of view, Kevin isnt on the radar. So he cant be in my or Cookys focus at all.
On a potential recall for Pietersen, who will play country cricket for Surrey this season, Moores added: Thats not my decision: Ive got enough decisions to make. Its not about me getting personal; its about the focus on the England team.
The frustration for me is that people whose dreams are being made by going on this tour arent being mentioned. They are not getting any air time and its frustrating. Weve got some very, very good players.
Thats very exciting. I understand Kevins a huge subject, but I dont think we can be drawn into that. Weve got to be completely focused on whats ahead of us.
Captain Alastair Cook has also distanced himself from any decision regarding Pietersens potential recall, claiming the ECB hierarchy will have the final say on his international career.
Im a long way away from that decision, said Cook. Its down to Paul [Downton], Tom [Harrison] and Colin [Graves]. Its not down to us. Weve got 16 guys going to West Indies who are desperate to start turning round English cricket from whats happened over the last three months.
We need to get back to winning ways and its about a brand of cricket and trying to win this series. Its about 16 guys and the support staff. The ECB will have to deal with everything else.
We have 16 guys going to West Indies, desperate to turn around our cricket. The brand of cricket, its about the series. [Pietersen] is for ECB hierarchy to deal with.
