Kevin Pietersen left out of squad for third Test vs South Africa

Kevin Pietersen was left out of England's squad on Sunday for the third test against South Africa after selectors said he failed to give assurances over phone text messages he sent to the South Africans which allegedly criticized his own teammates.

Pietersen, who scored 149 in the second test, failed to make England's 13-man squad for the test which starts at Lords on Thursday. He reportedly sent the text messages during the drawn second test at Headingley.

"During the past week we have held several discussions with Kevin Pietersen and his advisers. Following a constructive meeting it was agreed that a number of actions needed to be completed to re-engage Kevin within the England dressing room," England cricket managing director Hugh Morris said. "A fundamental item was to confirm publicly that no derogatory texts had been sent by Kevin to the South African team. This has not been forthcoming despite clear timelines being set to allow the selectors to pick the squad."

The South African-born Pietersen had threatened to quit test cricket after the second test, blaming "politics" and leaks to the media, but reversed his position on Saturday and made himself available again for his adopted country in all formats.

Pietersen retired from one-day internationals earlier this year, and as a consequence England ruled him out of its Twenty20 side.

"The success of the England team has been built on a unity of purpose and trust," Morris said. "Whilst we have made every attempt to find a solution to enable Kevin to be selected we have sadly had to conclude that, in the best interest of the team, he will miss the Lords test."

South Africa leads the three-match series 1-0.