Cricket
Pietersen: I just want to bat
2009-03-27 06:48
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London - Kevin Pietersen said on Friday he cannot wait to get home after a "heck of a tough time" following his departure as England skipper, although he insisted there were no problems with his return to ranks.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, he said he still could not understand what happened in January, when he quit after just three Tests in charge claiming he couldn't work with coach Peter Moores, who was sacked in the row.
"I still don't understand why everything happened the way it did so suddenly and so quickly," the South Africa-born batsman told the newspaper.
"It's something I've got to deal with and live with, and I have dealt with it and I'm living with it. I just want to bat and bat now."
He added: "I did what I did for the sake of the England team and I know that the players have enjoyed this tour even though we haven't won games."
The 28-year-old said the whole affair had "drained me mentally and I know people have been watching me and talking about me throughout this tour".
"It's been a heck of a tough time and I'm at the end of my tether now. Really and truly I can't wait to get home," Pietersen said.
He was speaking ahead of the third one-day international against West Indies at Kensington Oval on Friday. The five-match series is tied 1-1.
"There haven't been any dramas here or any trouble with me going back to the ranks like some people seemed to think there would be. I knew it wouldn't be a problem," the former skipper said.
But he admitted he was wary of giving his successor Andrew Strauss any advice, saying: "It's been too close to the bone in terms of what happened in January and that has made it difficult for me to get involved in decisions."
He said: "I never had everything I wanted as England captain, that's the thing that gets me.
"My England captaincy was not the England captaincy I wanted, that's what will live with me for a long time.... I wasn't allowed to do it in my way."
By contrast, "Straussy got what I wanted but good luck to him because he's a top man. I know he'll make the most of it."
Asked if he would consider the captaincy in the future, he was sceptical, and downplayed suggestions he might take over for the Twenty20 World Cup.
"After the way I was let down I just don't think I want to get involved in that again," Pietersen said.