A devastated Kevin Pietersen claims England's out-of-sorts cricket team have "been given permission to lose the Ashes" to Australia following the appointment of Andrew Strauss as director of cricket.
Pietersen is resigned to having represented England for the last time after being told by his former skipper that he was not in the frame to play either New Zealand or Australia in the northern summer.
The South African-born Pietersen, who felt he had pushed his claims for a recall with a magnificent unbeaten triple century in county cricket this week, said he had it on good authority that Strauss had a carte blanche to get whipped by Australia.
"I am angry and hurt but right now there is nothing I can do about it - Strauss will be judged on his results," the 34-year-old wrote in an explosive column for the UK's Daily Telegraph.
"Yet I have heard from two very good sources that results do not matter this summer anyway. The job description for the director of cricket job is focused on longer-term goals.
"But if Strauss has been told he does not have to win this summer then why should the players train and work hard?
"In essence, quite incredibly, they have all been given permission to lose the Ashes.
"I have never heard that before."
Australia are heavy favourites to retain the Ashes they emphatically won 5-0 in 2013-14, and the continued exile of one of their chief tormentors is unlikely to upset Darren Lehmann's team.
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