Mixed messages about Pietersen's return

England selector James Whitaker has followed captain Alastair Cook by once again pouring cold water over Kevin Pietersen's hopes of returning to the England side.

But, adding confusion to one of cricket’s biggest talking points, an English media report says incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves has already spoken to Pietersen and will meet with the 34-year-old again soon to discuss his chances of an England comeback.

Pietersen was sacked following England's 5-0 Ashes defeat in Australia last summer, but last week said he was exploring the option of forgoing his big money contract in the Indian Premier League and signing a deal to play county cricket in a bid to win back his place in England's Test and one-day sides.

The former skipper had been buoyed by comments from Graves earlier this month that indicated Pietersen's sacking last year was not final and he could very well play international cricket again.

Quick Single: Pietersen given a glimmer of hope

But Whitaker remains firm in his stance that he will not select the South Africa-born batsman again.

"We haven't had discussions at all about Kevin," Whitaker told the BBC.

"I know Colin very well, he is entitled to his opinion, but Kevin isn't part of our plans.

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England selector James Whitaker // Getty Images

"We've been developing our team for a year in Test match cricket. We've had some good conversations about what happened after the end of Australia.

"We've produced some good middle-order players, with Gary Ballance, Joe Root and Ian Bell continuing to perform well, so we are happy with where we are in the middle order."

Whitaker's comments came just hours after Cook, Pietersen's former teammate, had also moved to dull the hopes of the veteran of 104 Tests.

Cook said Pietersen's explosive autobiography last year had opened wounds with members of the England set-up that could not be easily healed.

"I think it's very unlikely," Cook said when asked about Pietersen returning.

"There's been a hell of a lot of stuff happened with his book and all that kind of stuff. It's a long way back from that." 

The comments of Whitaker and Cook were in contrast to a report in The Guardian on Wednesday that said Graves would meet with Pietersen in England in the coming weeks when the player returns from his World Cup commentating duties in Australia.

The report, written by Ali Martin, said the pair had already spoken on the phone and Pietersen was "seeking assurances as to how genuine his chances of an England recall would be if he were to sign a deal to play county cricket for Surrey this summer".

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Incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves // Getty Images

Last week, Pietersen confirmed reports he was considering turning his back on a lucrative deal with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL to return to county cricket with Surrey and push his case for an England recall.

Quick Single: KP could ditch IPL for county deal

"That's what I'm looking at at the moment," Pietersen told Fox Sports last week.

"There will be a change of scenery at board level with the ECB and I've always expressed my desire to play for England again if I got the opportunity.

"And it seems encouraging, but I've obviously got a few steps that I've got to climb.

"It just makes perfect sense to explore different things. That's what I'm doing at the moment."

Pietersen told the BBC this week: “If I can do anything that can help me get back into it for England then it’s something I want to do. I love playing for England."

Graves, a former executive chairman at defending county champions Yorkshire, will take over as ECB Chairman from Giles Clarke in May.