Kevin Pietersen's England career is over

Kevin Pietersen's England career is over after he was told he is no longer part of the national team’s plans.

The 33-year-old batsman, England's all-time leading run-scorer across all formats, was given the news by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

ECB managing director Paul Downton said: "The time is right to rebuild not only the team but also the team ethic."

This is an incredibly dumb decision, and if Paul Downton and the rest of the ECB management team are serious about this ‘rebuild’ then I can think of a few other high profile names that are due a phone call in the coming days letting them know they can forget playing for England as well. If that’s not the case then this ‘rebuild’ is code for make Pietersen the scape goat and blame him for everything that went wrong.

There are reports that Pietersen isn’t exactly the most popular player in the dressing room but so what he also happens to be the best and isn’t that the point of any sport at any level you play the best you have, instead of forcing them out when they’ve still got at least another three years left at the top.

What if the new coach, that isn’t close to be appointed yet, wanted Pietersen to be part of his side and thought he could get him back to his best.

I’ve said it already and I’ll say it again this is an incredibly dumb decision, and I can’t think of another major cricketing nation that would have dropped Pietersen at this stage of his career, but this is England we’re talking about after all.