Kevin Pietersen

In February 2014, the ECB ended Pietersen's international career, explaining that it wanted to rebuild the team's ethos and trust around captain Alastair Cook. In May 2015, despite his return to county cricket and an unbeaten score of 355, Andrew Strauss again ruled out a recall, citing a "massive trust issue".

State of the evidence

Disputed

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

In his autobiography, Pietersen accused several England players and officials of sustaining a culture of bullying and cliques, reigniting public controversy over his exclusion.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

During the 2012 series against South Africa, Pietersen sent private messages to South African players described as "provocative" and containing criticism of his England team environment. He was dropped from the following Test and subsequently apologised.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Directly implicated

Pietersen was sanctioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board following several Twitter posts. In 2010, he was fined after an offensive response to being left out of a squad; in 2012, he was again sanctioned following criticism of commentator Nick Knight. These episodes fuelled debate over his difficult relationship with the organisation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

On 31 May 2012, Pietersen announced his retirement from all forms of limited-overs international cricket. He wanted to remain available for international T20 matches in particular, but the ECB's central contracts stipulated that a player unavailable for one one-day format was automatically unavailable for both. His continued availability for the IPL intensified debate over scheduling, franchises and obligations towards the national team.

State of the evidence

Documented

A public breakdown in relations between Pietersen, then England captain, and coach Peter Moores caused a major crisis in January 2009. Pietersen, who had called for Moores to be replaced, left the captaincy when he would otherwise reportedly have been removed; the ECB simultaneously dismissed Moores.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated