Graham Gooch: Kevin Pietersen did some great things for England… but bringing him back would be a mistake

Today Paul Downton was facing questions at Lord’s about the World Cup humiliation.

There has been speculation that the managing director’s job is on the line and that head coach Peter Moores is also under threat.



England’s miserable pool stage exit has also renewed talk that Kevin Pietersen could be recalled despite being effectively sacked from the team in February 2014 and having since published a controversial autobiography in which he criticised some of his former team-mates and management.



After the Ashes debacle, Downton described Pietersen as being “disconnected” from the team. Now the thinking is that he needs to be re-connected if England are to have any chance of regaining the Ashes this summer.



But, for Graham Gooch, Pietersen is not the answer. “I wouldn’t bring Pietersen back,” says the former England captain and batting coach. “I would question whether he would have made that much of a difference in the World Cup. His record for England over his career has been box office. But his performances in ODI cricket before this tournament weren’t special. Kevin Pietersen did some great things for England, make no mistake. But now it’s time to move on.”[image error]