Did not give Pietersen recall guarantees, says ECB chairman Graves

English Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves on Friday said he did not give Kevin Pietersen any guarantees about being recalled by England this year.

New English Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves on Friday said he did not give Kevin Pietersen any guarantees about being recalled by England this year.

Pietersen, sacked by England in February 2014, was told by Graves in March that if he scored runs in county cricket he would be considered for selection again.

But, having made a career-best 355 not out for Surrey, the controversial batsman was told by newly-appointed England cricket director Andrew Strauss on Monday that he would not be recalled this summer.

"I didn't make any promises," Graves said in an England and Wales Cricket Board statement. "There were no guarantees that if he (Pietersen) chose to exit his IPL (Indian Premier League) contract, play county cricket and score runs he would be selected for England. And I said he should make any decision on his future on that basis."

Pietersen reacted angrily to Strauss's decision, describing the ECB's behaviour as "deceitful" earlier this week.

Graves said, "In the past few days my integrity has been called into question, something I can't accept.

"So it saddens me that what was a private conversation with Kevin in March has been used to do just that."

Former players such as South African Graeme Smith and English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff have weighed in on the Pietersen saga.

In April, Australia great Steve Waugh suggested England should forget about an international recall for Pietersen because he was not worth a place in the current Test side.