Broad's side unable to deflect continued questions about absent Pietersen
The absence of Kevin Pietersen is not enough to remove his shadow from England's ICC World Twenty20 campaign.
The absence of Kevin Pietersen is not enough to remove his shadow from England's ICC World Twenty20 campaign.
Stuart Broad has had to fend off incessant questions about Kevin Pietersen as England prepare to defend their Twenty20 title.
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David Clough
Stuart Broad's side will begin the defence of their title against Afghanistan in Colombo today but will also have to contend with the perception that they will struggle without their tempestuous batsman.
Broad has long maintained Pietersen's unavailability – due to a continued impasse over his conduct during a Test with South Africa – is an irrelevance, because England have known for almost four months that he would not be part of their campaign. It has been a party line, too, to point out that those who have returned, or who have been promoted, to the Twenty20 team have already excelled and demonstrated potential to do even better.
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