text: Gary Ballance’s hundred looks to have closed the door on an England return for Kevin Pietersen in the near future. That is the view of former captain Andrew Flintoff — with Ballance, Ian Bell and Joe Root surely all now secure in the middle order for the summer. Former Ashes hero Flintoff believes Pietersen is now ‘running out of time’ to resurrect his Test career. He will be 35 on June 27, before the home Ashes series starts. Gary Ballance produced an outstanding display with the bat against West Indies on Thursday . Ballance, Ian Bell and Joe Root's form my have shut the door on a Test return for Kevin Piertersen (above) Flintoff said: ‘He’s a fantastic player, but nobody just walks into any team — especially the England team. ‘Which of the batsmen do you say “you’re not playing” for Kevin to come in? I can’t imagine it’s going to be in the near future.’ Flintoff did give his full backing to struggling captain Alastair Cook, who has had a double failure with the bat in Antigua. ‘He’s one of the all-time England greats,’ said Flintoff. ‘And you get the sense everyone within the set-up wants him as captain. He’s a popular lad.’ Andrew Flintoff (left) believes Pietersen is now ‘running out of time’ to resurrect his Test career .
target: Gary Ballance, Ian Bell and Joe Root are forming a strong middle order .
  Ballance shone at No 3 for England against West Indies .
  England exile Kevin Pietersen will be 35 on June 27 .