A day after Kevin Pietersen rampaged to a triple-century for his county side Surrey, England's new director of cricket Andrew Strauss said Pietersen couldn't be recalled due to a "lack of trust". If that wasn't enough to rile up Twitter, Strauss also said that Pietersen had been offered an advisory role in limited-overs cricket, which Pietersen had declined.
Cricketers and experts tweet on Andrew Strauss' lack of trust on Kevin Pietersen
The support for Pietersen was overwhelming, with Sri Lanka great and Surrey team-mate Kumar Sangakkara being unusually forthright.
"I don't trust @KP24 enough for him to play for England but I trust him enough to advise me on ODI cricket" #strausslogic .
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) May 12, 2015The other major tweet to make #StraussLogic a trending topic came from former South African captain Graeme Smith.
I see the head boy is making English cricket the laughing stock again! #StraussLogic
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) May 12, 2015Geoffrey Boycott, no stranger to run-ins with administrations, had words of encouragement for Pietersen.
Congratulations @KP24 on a fantastic innings. Only spoilt by Strauss & Tom Harrison. Keep your chin up and keep scoring runs! #KPForEngland
— Geoffrey Boycott (@GeoffreyBoycott) May 12, 2015Former England captain Michael Vaughan, one of the candidates for the post of director of cricket, wanted things to be kept simple.
Just pick your best available players and let's stop over complicating sport.... It's a game of Cricket .. Nothing more Nothing less...
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) May 11, 2015Shane Warne waded into the debate, giving Strauss a tip on how to become more popular.
Read that my old mate Strauss has said KP won't play for Eng, but offered him an advisory role to help Eng ? What the ? Serious ? #shambles
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) May 12, 2015
If Strauss wanted instant public acceptance & the whole country to support Eng again, he should have said, "I want KP back in the team" !!!
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) May 12, 2015Former England allrounder Andrew Flintoff joined the chorus calling for Pietersen's return.
I have no agenda in this , I thought If @KP24 was to play again he should fight his way back in which he has , as for personality he can ..
— andrew flintoff (@flintoff11) May 12, 2015
Be high maintenance then again so was I , but you do grow up and change . I wish I had the chance to play in my mid 30's reckon I'd have...
— andrew flintoff (@flintoff11) May 12, 2015
Have been better ! Like all other fans I'm intrigued to know the reasons building for the future is lame . Only then will this be put to bed
— andrew flintoff (@flintoff11) May 12, 2015Former England footballer and commentator Gary Lineker was also critical of the decision.
I see Mr Strauss has allowed personal grievance to influence his decisions. Seems extraordinarily petty and immature. Doesn't bode well.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 12, 2015Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar was among the few who weren't swayed by the runs Pietersen made.
It was never about KP's ability as a batsman, so why should the 326 n.o change anything?
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 12, 2015