Sacked England batsman Kevin Pietersen regrets his fall-out with former skipper Andrew Strauss and still harbours the dream of becoming the first English player to score 10,000 test runs.
Prolific and polarising in equal measure, the 33-year-old South Africa-born strokemaker`s international career was cut short after nearly a decade at the crease this year after England`s Ashes whitewash in Australia.
Pietersen, who was involved in a text messages scandal in 2012 that soured his relationship with Strauss before being “reintegrated” into the side, was sacked in February as England sought to “rebuild” team ethic after the 5-0 series loss.
However, on a visit to the Indian capital, the 104-match veteran appeared optimistic of one day returning to test cricket despite being dumped for a perceived lack of team spirit, although neither he nor England have revealed the exact reasons for his exit.
“Yes, maybe I`ll still get to 10,000 (test runs),” Pietersen was quoted as saying by the Indian Express newspaper on Thursday.
The top order batsman, who has scored 8,181 test runs at a 47-plus average, appeared contrite over the 2012 scandal, when he reportedly sent South African players critical text messages that targeted Strauss and his team mates.
“Andrew Strauss is a great friend. I was just in a bad space. We were not having a great relationship at that time. It should never have come out, all that nonsense. That wasn`t a special time at all,” Pietersen added.
Portrayed as a brash cricketer and frequently labelled a disruptive dressing room influence, Pietersen said he did not care what the English media had to say about him.
“I don`t read the media, especially in England. No interest,” said Pietersen, who will captain the Delhi Daredevils in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament.
“I`ll have a look at it and stuff. I will obviously see it through Twitter. You sort of gauge what`s going on. But I have got no interest in what those… gentlemen… have got to say.”
