Paul Downton: 'ECB could have handled Kevin Pietersen fallout better'

Managing director Paul Downton has suggested that the England and Wales Cricket Board would handle the fallout of Kevin Pietersen's dismissal differently if it were given another chance.

The 34-year-old was sacked almost a year ago following England's disastrous 5-0 whitewash to Australia in The Ashes Down Under.

After the confidentiality agreement between the ECB and Pietersen ended in October, the batsman launched a tirade at the organisation and claimed in his autobiography that there was a bullying culture within the team.

"All one has to do is read Kevin's book to see how disaffected he was," the Daily Mail quotes Downton as saying. "I don't think you'll ever be able to explain to some people's satisfaction what happened.

"I can repeat what we said at the time, which was that people felt Kevin had become disengaged from the side, and that we needed more from our leaders.

"I'm sure we could have handled it better, but it's history - we can't change it anymore. My only driving force here is what's best for English cricket. Am I content that we made the right decision? Absolutely."

Pietersen was released by Indian Premier League franchise Delhi Daredevils on Monday.