England's Kevin Pietersen has been dropped from the side after sending "provocative" text messages to the oppositionEngland and South Africa are the top two ranked sides in world cricketEngland need to win to maintain their number one rankingKevin Pietersen has been dropped after "provocative" text messages sent to oppositionPietersen has apologized, but is yet to discover if he will play again(CNN) -- England and South Africa will fight it out for the title of cricket's number one ranked Test side at Lord's on Thursday when the teams meet in the final Test of their three game series.
However, the build up has been overshadowed by a controversy that threatens to tear apart the team unity that took England to the top of the rankings almost a year ago.England's preparations have been dominated by a scandal over derogatory text messages, a YouTube video and a parody Twitter account. All of which resulted in England dropping of one of cricket's most famous names for the vital final Test.Kevin Pietersen, who was born in South Africa but has enjoyed a long career with England, issued an apology on Wednesday for the text messages that have overshadowed his side's preparations.England are due to name their squad for the Twenty 20 World Cup on Saturday and Pietersen has issued an apology in an attempt to draw the controversy to a close and put himself in contention for the tournament.Pietersen is recognized as one of the world's leading batsmen, particularly in the shorter form of the game."I did send what you might call provocative texts to my close friends in the SA team," said Pietersen.var currExpandable="expand18";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='sports/2011/12/23/cricket-kevin-pietersen-intv.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/111223072622-cricket-kevin-pietersen-intv-00033423-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand18Store=mObj;var currExpandable="expand28";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='sports/2012/07/11/exp-cricket-ali-bacher.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120711042927-exp-cricket-ali-bacher-00000501-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand28Store=mObj;var currExpandable="expand38";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='sports/2012/03/16/kapur-india-tendulkar-endorsements.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120316033614-tendulkar-2011-melbourne-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand38Store=mObj;if (typeof cnnArticleGallery == "undefined") {var cnnArticleGallery = {};}if(typeof cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList =="undefined"){cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList = [];}var expGallery84=new ArticleExpandableGallery();expGallery84.setImageCount(4);//cnn_adbptrackpgalimg("Cricket hero turned politician", 1);
Cricket hero turned politician
Tendulkar: From cricket to politics Event.observe(window, 'load', function() {//report the first gallery image to ADBPif(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined') {cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image, "");}});if (typeof cnnArticleGallery == "undefined") {var cnnArticleGallery = {};}if(typeof cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList =="undefined"){cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList = [];}var expGallery85=new ArticleExpandableGallery();expGallery85.setImageCount(13);//cnn_adbptrackpgalimg("The Little Master", 1);
Indian painter Jagjot Singh Rubal touches up his painting commemorating Sachin Tendulkar's latest cricketing milestone.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":true,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":1,"title":"The Little Master"} 
Tendulkar became the first man in cricket history to score 100 international hundreds when he made 114 in a limited-overs match against Bangladesh on March 16, 2012.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":2,"title":"100 hundreds"} 
Tendulkar visited the residence of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, right, to mark his achievement. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":3,"title":"Prime player"}
He had been stuck on 99 since the 2011 World Cup, when he closed to within one of the milestone with a ton against South Africa. Tendulkar helped India win the final against co-hosts Sri Lanka in his home city of Mumbai on April 2. He scored only 18 in that match, but was India's top runscorer as his country won the 50-over tournament for the first time.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":4,"title":"India\'s first World Cup title"} 
Cricket fans had been waiting for the milestone, which came 33 innings after the South Africa game. Tendulkar went close during India's disappointing tour of Australia -- against whom he has scored 20 tons, more than any other nation.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":5,"title":"An agonizing wait"} 
Tendulkar is the first and only player in cricket history to score 15,000 Test match runs, achieving the feat in November 2011.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":6,"title":"Test best"} 
Having scored a triple century as a schoolboy, and then passing 100 on his first-class debut in 1988, Tendulkar made his international debut the following year at the age of 16 against Pakistan.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":7,"title":"Teen prodigy"} 
Tendulkar scored his first international century in the five-day format the following year on India's tour of England, hitting 119 not out in the second Test at Old Trafford.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":8,"title":"First of many to come"} 
Debate still rages as to whether Tendulkar can be considered greater than Australian legend Donald Bradman, whose Test career ended in 1948 with an incredible average of 99.94, scoring 6,996 runs in 52 matches. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":9,"title":"The greatest?"}
England's players applaud after Tendulkar scores 193 in Leeds in 2002, passing Bradman's record of 29 Test centuries. He has now played 188 Tests, notching 51 hundreds.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":10,"title":"Passing a legend"} 
Tendulkar, left, became Test cricket's highst runscorer in October 2008 when he passed Brian Lara's previous record of 11,953 during a home series against Australia.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":11,"title":"Lara\'s landmark falls"} 
Tendulkar became the first batsman to score 17,000 runs in one-day internationals with a knock of 175 against Australia in Hyderabad on November 5, 2009.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":12,"title":"Run machine"} 
Tendulkar's next foray into three figures saw him become the first batsman to score 200 in a 50-over international -- against South Africa on February 25, 2010. Indian schoolchildren in Amritsar celebrated their national hero's landmark feat.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":8,"y":5,"pos":13,"title":"Tendulkar\'s 200"} Tendulkar reaches 100 international centuries Event.observe(window, 'load', function() {//report the first gallery image to ADBPif(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined') {cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image, "");}});"The texts were meant as banter between close friends. I need to rein myself in sometimes."It is alleged that the texts mocked England captain Andrew Strauss, who is playing his 100th England Test at Lord's."I apologise to Straussy and the team for the inappropriate remarks at the press conference and for the texts. I truly didn't mean to cause upset or tension particularly with important games at stake."The English Cricket Board, however, have refused to say whether Pietersen will ever play for England again."We are in receipt of Kevin's apology, but further discussions need to take place to establish whether it is possible to regain the trust and mutual respect required to ensure all parties are able to focus on playing cricket and to maintain the unity of purpose that has served us so well in recent years," said Hugh Morris, of the English Cricket Board (ECB)."Critically, those discussions should take place behind closed doors, rather than in the media spotlight."A successful conclusion to this process is in everyone's best interests and is required for Kevin Pietersen's potential selection in all forms of the game to be considered."Morris tried to draw attention to the "important" Test England are trying to prepare for, declaring that the England management "will make no further comment until such time as is appropriate."The three match South Africa series presents England's biggest challenge since regaining the number one ranking last year. Andrew Strauss' side lost the first Test and drew the second Test, meaning they require a victory to prevent the visitors from overtaking them at the top of the rankings.The furore over Pietersen started immediately after the second Test. The Surrey batsman declared in an emotional press conference after the second Test, where he was named player of the match, that he was considering his international future, claiming that "it's tough for me in this dressing room,"Rumors of "provocative" text messages sent to some of the South African players increased the pressure on Pietersen.The South African camp, however, dismissed the texts and claimed that the English Cricket Board hadn't even asked them to see the messages before they dropped Pietersen from the side."Text messages were sent, but it was banter," said team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee."The ECB has not made a formal approach to see the text messages as is currently being reported in the media."Pietersen has always been a controversial figure, with England's management tolerating him due to his undeniable talent.He is one of a handful of England players to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League -- where he plays alongside several of the South African players -- and earlier this year retired from the national team's one day and Twenty 20 teams, apparently so he could play more club cricket in India and Australia.In a remarkable turn of events on Saturday, Pietersen released a YouTube video in which he reversed his retirement, committed himself to English cricket and attempted to explain some of the recent controversy. Crucially, he failed to apologise for the text messages."I've had a change of heart because I love playing cricket for England, I love being part of a successful England team," said Pietersen."It would be sad for me to finish with the way things have been running through the media in the last three or four days - it would be sad to end my career like this."So sitting down with my family, my advisors, my close friends, we've decided and I've decided it would be a lot better to finish my career on a positive note rather than one that's being developed at the moment."The video didn't go far enough for the ECB, who called up promising youngster Jonny Bairstow instead of Pietersen.One element of the ongoing saga has been a parody twitter account in the name of Pietersen that was followed by several senior England players.The were suggestions that one of Pietersen's colleagues was responsible for the account, which had previously joked that Pietersen was motivated solely by money and thought he was better than the rest of the England squad.Eventually, Richard Bailey, who describes himself as "an England cricket fan", admitted he set up the account.To further complicate matters Stuart Broad, captain of England's Twenty 20 side, is friends with Mr. Bailey. The ECB were forced to put out a statement on Broad's behalf on Tuesday afternoon, less than 36 hours before the crucial Test got under way, denying any involvement with the account."Following last night's statement by Mr Richard Bailey that he was responsible for creating a parody Twitter account in Kevin Pietersen's name, I would like to confirm that I had no involvement in this whatsoever," said Broad."I met with the managing director of England cricket, Hugh Morris, this morning and assured him that I did not play any role in the creation of this account or provide Mr Bailey with any information regarding Kevin Pietersen or the England team."As has been widely reported Mr Bailey is a friend of mine, but we had no conversations regarding this issue at all and I am pleased that he has now decided to close the parody account down."South Africa captain Graeme Smith, described the situation as "amazing", and claimed that in the visitor's dressing room the matter has "hardly been discussed.""From our perspective it's just been so overboard really. I can't believe it's still carrying on," he said.Smith, who is due to captain his country for a record breaking 94th time at Lord's, described Pietersen as "world class", and warned England that it would be "wrong" to say "they're not going to miss him."
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