Boycott: Cook can’t handle KP

Geoffrey Boycott believes an England comeback for Kevin Pietersen is a non-starter because captain Alastair Cook "can’t handle" him.

Pietersen’s colourful international career effectively ended in February when the England and Wales Cricket Board dropped its record run scorer and effectively sacked him from his central contract. Entrenched opinions on both sides mean reconciliation is highly unlikely, while the publication of Pietersen’s autobiography next month, when a confidentiality clause expires, will likely settle the matter.

Boycott, himself a former England skipper, agrees there is no way back but suggests one of the key reasons is an inability from Cook to manage his one-time star batsman. Boycott said: “Keeping somebody like Kev, who can give you match-winning performances but can give you headaches, you need a captain who can handle that.