Graeme Smith (above) says his relationship with Kevin Pietersen is improving

Former South African country captain Graeme Smith on Thursday expressed his surprise at England‘s call to finish the international career of his Surrey team-mate Kevin Pietersen.

Pietersen, 33, was sensationally axed by European nation within the aftermath of their 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia, despite the South Africa-born hitter being his country’s leading run-scorer across all formats.

England captain Alastair Cook on delineated  the britain and Wales Cricket Board’s call to jettison Pietersen as a “brave call”, however Smith feels that the ECB took its call too in haste.

“I’m ignorant, simply speaking from associate outsider’s perspective, however it might be stunning once you have a extremely quality player like that, and you wouldn’t attempt to build it work,” aforementioned Smith.

“He’s within the middle of his career, encompasses a few smart years left in him. If there’s a man in his last 2 seasons and he’s changing into cross, then you begin to seem at things otherwise.


“But Kevin’s still got lots of energy, he’s fit, healthy and still playing well. it absolutely was stunning.”