Limited-overs coach Ashley Giles has admitted that it is hard for England to overlook Kevin Pietersen's match-winning potential when they plan their new era.
An inexperienced England side threw away winning positions twice during the 4-1 one-day international series defeat to Australia, to leave Giles wondering what might have been with just 12 months to go until the World Cup. The World Twenty20 is even closer still, starting in Bangladesh on March 16, with the final 15-man squad set to be named early next month.
Much has been made about whether or not England should include or axe Pietersen' following the Ashes whitewash, and failure to pick the batsman for Bangladesh, or the warm-up limited-overs tour of the West Indies, would likely be seen as the end of his international career.
"There is a place for anyone who can bring that tempo and win us games," Giles told the press. "Nothing has changed.
"We have still not picked the West Indies squad, T20 World Cup squad and obviously next year's World Cup squad, but we have to be careful.
"We have a lot of experience in that batting line-up. We have got to use it better."
England have routinely refused to speculate on any player's future since the Ashes loss.
Matt Cotton
