23 Aug 2012

Flower wants Pietersen to come clean

5:58 am on 23 August 2012

The England cricket coach Andy Flower believes Kevin Pietersen must reveal the content of his controversial text messages if he wants to salvage his international career.

Pietersen was left out of the England side that lost their world number one test ranking to South Africa with a 51-run loss in the third and final test at Lord's on Tuesday after sending what he admitted were "provocative" texts to Proteas players.

It has been alleged the texts contained derogatory remarks regarding England Test captain Andrew Strauss.

Although he has apologised, Pietersen's failure to reveal the content of the messages to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) did not help his cause, as he was dropped despite a brilliant 149 in the second Test at Headingley.

He was also omitted from the squad for next month's World Twenty/20 in Sri Lanka.