Pietersen admits to making mistakes over 'text message to Proteas players' incident

Star England batsman Kevin Pietersen has admitted that he had mistakes over the text message incident that saw him dropped by England on disciplinary grounds last season before he returned to the side.

The former England captain, who returned to competitive cricket after three months out with a right knee problem by playing for Surrey, was dropped from the Test side amid reports that he had sent provocative messages to South Africa players, some reportedly critical of then England captain Andrew Strauss, Sport 24 reports.

The incident occurred after Pietersen having made a Test hundred against South Africa in Leeds, had said that it was tough being him in the England dressing room, after which he was also dropped from the World Twenty20 squad before being accepted back into the side across all formats, the report added.

Stating that he should have acted in a proper fashion, Pietersen however, said that he has learnt from his mistakes and has taken the incident on the chin, adding that he is looking forward to his future career and is making sure that he do the right things from now on.

Meanwhile, Pietersen said that although he is keen to become fully involved with England again, he felt awkward visiting the dressing room as an injured player, adding that injuries are a player's worst nightmare and makes him feel completely out of the system.

Stating that he still felt uncomfortable with other players if he is injured despite an extensive career, Pietersen further said that his latest injury, a badly bruised bottom of the femur, had been one of the worst of his career, adding that he was still in pain despite being on the strongest painkillers.

Pietersen, who is in line to play in the second Twenty20 against New Zealand at The Oval on Thursday, is also set to play for England in their pre-Ashes warm-up against Essex before the first Test against Australia on July 10, the report added.