Kevin Pietersen: “From what we’ve seen on that coverage, that bloke doesn’t play for England again for a while”

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Kevin Pietersen believes that England all-rounder Ben Stokes shouldn’t be allowed to feature in the Ashes following his alleged involvement in a street brawl outside a night club in Bristol in September.

Stokes was withdrawn from England’s Ashes squad as a result of the incident and is current waiting to see if the Crown Prosecution Service will advise police to charge him.

However, no matter what the outcome of the police investigation is, Pietersen is adamant that Stokes shouldn’t head to Australia.

“It would be wrong for Stokes to be on this tour,” Pietersen told the Mail on Sunday. “From what we’ve seen on that coverage, that bloke doesn’t play for England again for a while.”

Pietersen also took aim at England’s director of cricket Andrew Strauss as he feels the 40-year-old’s job could be in jeopardy.

Strauss and Pietersen have had a frosty relationship ever since the former played an instrumental role in banishing the latter from the England team after the 2013/14 Ashes series, where England were whitewashed 5-0.

“The issue with Ben Stokes isn’t about Ben Stokes. It’s about Andrew Strauss,” Pietersen said. “He’s the one who’s going to make this call about if and when Stokes returns. The CPS might make it for him but if they don’t, this is on Strauss.

“This is his biggest decision. Forget what he’s ever done to me. This is his biggest call. He likes to do things by the book. By his book. He doesn’t have much hair at the moment. He could lose it all on this decision. It’s a monster.”