Pietersen set for England talks

Dropped star batsman Kevin Pietersen is facing showdown talks with England skipper Andrew Strauss next week as he tries to rescue his international career. The two men are to meet after the conclusion of the third Test against South Africa at Lord's to discuss whether Pietersen has a future in the squad after he was discarded for sending text messages to members of the South African team during the second Test at Headingley, Britain's Press Association reported. The looming talks came amid further reports that some of South African-born Pietersen's texts were offensive to Strauss and allegedly offered advice to the touists on how to dismiss him. Pietersen apologised for the texts without specifying their content but former England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Lord MacLaurin told the BBC that if the allegations are proven, Pietersen will likely not play for England again. "I think the Kevin Pietersen thing is pretty sad and pretty serious for cricket, the ECB are capable of dealing with the matter as they see fit," Lord MacLaurin said. "Nobody is bigger than the game and history is littered with sports stars who believe they are bigger than the game and business people too. "If the reports in the papers are true.....I think Mr Pietersen will never play for England again."