Shane Warne has defended his friend Kevin Pietersen, saying the biggest tragedy is that the controversial batsman is not playing cricket for England.
Pietersen’s international career is on the ropes after he was caught texting South African players during the second Test this month.
He was dumped for the third Test and the latest allegation is that in one of the texts, Pietersen had called England captain Andrew Strauss an extremely derogative wordin Afrikaans.
But Warne said English cricket authorities were partly to blame for the current situation and the Australian cricket legend called for a compromise.
“Kevin will be one of the first people to admit that he’s acted in a way that’s been a bit silly and stupid and I’m sure he’d like to take back a few of his actions,” Warne said on Tuesday.
“Knowing Kevin Pietersen and living with (him) for a year or so … and becoming friends with him a while ago, I understand what made him tick.
“There’s a bit too much ego at the ECB (English Cricket Board), there’s no give or take or compromise.
“Both sides are at fault – the bottom line is Kevin Pietersen is not playing international cricket, which is a tragedy.”
Warne added that Pietersen was a special player and that some personalities needed different treatment.
“He has to commit to the team first and you have to also understand that some people need different things,” Warne said.
“The (English) cricket team, I think they’ve let Kevin Pietersen down – it shouldn’t have gotten to this stage.
“If he doesn’t sign his England contract, if he doesn’t play for England again, I just think that’s a tragedy.
“To me, the leadership of England, whether it be the selectors, ECB, coaching, captain, all that – they have to put their hands up and say we haven’t handled this as best we can.
“Kevin Pietersen has to put his hand up and say I’ve conducted myself in a pretty ordinary fashion, too.”
Warne also called for Pietersen and Strauss to sort out their differences, whatever it takes.
“Strauss and Pietersen could have gone down the pub and had a beer … if they’d punched the absolute whatever out of each other to sort it out, so be it,” he said.
“If you have to punch each other up around the corner, then do it, get it out of your system, then come back, put your arm around each other and walk out to play together.”