Kevin Pietersen: Highs and the lows

England batsman Kevin Pietersen's Test career is still in doubt, despite him apologising for sending "provocative" texts to the South African team and being dropped for the third and final Test.

Here is a summary of the controversial cricketer's career:

Born: June 27, 1980

Birthplace: Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

1997-98: Makes first-class debut for Natal as an all-rounder.

2001: Joins Nottinghamshire with a view to qualifying as an England player, having become frustrated with the quota selection system in South Africa.

2003: Averages more than 50 for the third season running but becomes disenchanted with his county employers and threatens to sue for unfair dismissal, even though relegated Nottinghamshire insist he has not been sacked.

2005: Joins the England squad for the one-day series against his native South Africa.

2005: Registers maiden century with 108 in the second match in Bloemfontein. Scores further centuries in East London and Centurion. Becomes the fastest man in history to reach 500 one-day international runs.

2005: Scores 57 and 64 on Test debut against Australia, then hits century to rescue England, who claim the Ashes with a draw in the final Test at The Oval.

2006: Becomes the first batsman since 1990 to score a century in three successive Test innings on English soil with 142 against Sri Lanka.

2007: Posts his highest score of 226 in the second Test against the West Indies at Headingley.

2008: Replaces Michael Vaughan as Test captain and Paul Collingwood as one-day skipper, leading England to a 4-0 thrashing of South African in the one-day series.

2009: Reports of a rift between Pietersen and coach Peter Moores surface and he resigns as England captain.

November 2010-January 2011: On top form in England's Ashes series win in Australia, with the highlight a career-best 227 in Adelaide.

2012: Fined by the ECB for a Twitter outburst against Sky commentator Nick Knight.

2012: Retires from one-day and Twenty20 internationals.

-- After scoring a superb 149 against South Africa at Headingley, casts doubt on his Test future, claiming "obstacles" must be overcome in order for him to continue beyond the third Test against South Africa at Lord's.

-- Declares his intention to represent England in all forms of cricket on YouTube, but is dropped from England squad for third Test.

-- Apologises for sending "provocative texts to my close friends in the SA team" but it's not enough for the ECB, with managing director Hugh Morris saying "further discussions" are needed before Pietersen can be recalled.