Graeme Swann 'baffled' by England's decision to sack Kevin Pietersen
Graeme Swann says he was "baffled" by England's decision to sack Kevin Pietersen and says he witnessed nothing on the Australia tour to indicate why the batsman has been cast aside now.
Pietersen's international career was effectively brought to a close on Tuesday night when he was omitted from the upcoming tour of the Caribbean and ICC World Twenty20, with the 33-year-old all but conceding in a joint statement that it was the end of the line for him with England.
Writing in his column in The Sun, Swann said: "I'll be honest about Kevin Pietersen – myself and several other England players were not exactly members of his fan club during the Textgate scandal of 2012.
"But I changed my opinion of him once he was reintegrated back into the England team towards the end of that year.
"He made a huge effort to improve his attitude around the dressing room. I saw or heard no issues with him in Australia this winter, his approach was exceptional.
"That's why I was baffled on Tuesday when he was effectively sacked as an England player."
The former spinner said he would have understood if Pietersen's career with England had finished after Textgate. "But to go through the reintegration process and then, just 15 months later, discard him for good seems very strange."
He added: "Clearly, Kevin must have upset people enough for the England hierarchy to decide he is no longer wanted. Don't forget we're not talking about a middling player here – we're talking about a batsman of sublime talent."