Adam Hollioake: 'Kevin Pietersen would be too distracting for England'

Former England captain Adam Hollioake has suggested that the England and Wales Cricket Board would be making a mistake by bringing Kevin Pietersen back into the international set-up.

New ECB chairman Colin Graves recently suggested that the door is open for Pietersen to return following his axe from the team last year.

However, Hollioake believes that the batsman's strong criticism of the ECB following his exit would make it hard for him to be fully integrated again.

"It would be too distracting to have him back in the side," Hollioake told BBC World Service's Stumped programme. "When he got jettisoned, I thought it was the wrong decision. The whole thing was handled appallingly.

"But what he did with his book and his behaviour since then is everything you wouldn't want someone to do if they were trying to regain their place in the side."

The 34-year-old recently stated that he will try to work his way back into the side following Graves's claims.