Kevin Pietersen's Saga Unfolded

2012 has been the year of controversy for Kevin Pietersen which has eventually found him out of the England cricket team in spite of being England's greatest cricketer of this generation.

May 23
Pietersen is fined an undisclosed sum by the ECB for criticising Sky commentator Nick Knight. A week later he announces his retirement from one-day and Twenty20 cricket, which he offers to reverse a month later if he can play the whole of the IPL.
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August 4
He makes a brilliant 149 against South Africa in the second Test. But Pietersen’s relationship with England fractures when he says "It’s tough being me in this dressing room", and admits he is considering retiring from Test cricket after the third Test.
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August 10
Strauss and Pietersen meet after newspaper revelations that he sent text messages making derogatory comments, allegedly about Strauss, to South Africa players during the second Test. A peace deal is attempted in a call to Matt Prior.
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August 11
Pietersen posts a video on YouTube through his PR company in which he claims he wants to play for England in all forms of international cricket, without conditions. "I’ve had a change of heart because I love playing cricket for England."
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August 12
Pietersen is dropped by England for the third Test against South Africa at Lord’s. Hugh Morris says: "A fundamental item was to confirm publicly that no derogatory texts had been sent to the South African team. This has not been forthcoming."
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August 13
Former newspaper editor Piers Morgan, a friend of Pietersen’s, escalates row by claiming two England players, Stuart Broad (right) and Graeme Swann (left), have links to the originator of a parody Twitter account. He tweets: "Over to you Mr Flower."
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August 14
Broad is interviewed by the ECB but denies involvement in the KP Genius Twitter account. Broad says: "I did not play any role in the creation of this account or provide any information regarding Kevin Pietersen or the England team."
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August 15
Pietersen issues an apology, admitting he sent "provocative" text messages to members of the South Africa team at Headingley. Strauss is unconvinced. "To resolve those issues we need to do it face to face, away from the media."