'Ultimately Kevin Pietersen found himself friendless'

"They've distanced him - he fielded at fine-leg for the whole [Australia] series. I thought he could have been managed in a better way. England lost 5-0 and need a huge scapegoat. He didn't have a great series, by his own record, but the ECB need to explain what he does that they can't manage any longer. You have to be able to manage mavericks. You can't have clones around."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan

"He was quite outstanding. Many people enjoyed watching him bat - a box-office cricketer - and now sadly it has all come to an end. When we were winning, we didn't hear anything. When we lose, everyone is pointing fingers at KP - and I find that unfair and unjust."
Former England captain Alec Stewart

"[Alastair] Cook and [Andy] Flower haven't been able to manage him and have to accept some responsibility. He was an individual; I was one [as well]. You can be an individual within the team but not an individual full stop - take it or leave it. They've taken it for long enough and now they've said they'll leave it."
Former England batsman Geoff Boycott

"It's time to move on. A line in the sand has been drawn. Captains and team directors have all suffered because of Pietersen's behaviour. No man is bigger than the game and England have decided Kevin Pietersen got too big for his boots."
Former England bowler Bob Willis

"It's a bold move when you go without one of your best players … so there must have been things that were happening behind the scenes that Flower and Cook weren't amused with."
Nasser Hussain, the former England captain

"It was coming, I think. There was a unanimity of views there from the people that count, so ultimately I think Kevin Pietersen found himself friendless. He had no allies amongst the management, the hierarchy and the senior players as well because Paul Downton [the new ECB director] would have been taking soundings from them at the end of the Ashes tour. It was a pretty horrific Ashes tour and there have been a few victims along the way, but I think he just found himself friendless and with no allies."
Michael Atherton, the former England captain

"Can't believe what I'm hearing and reading tonight! Sad day for English cricket fans, Love or hate him, KP is still the best player we've got! The only people who are losing in this whole situation is the England fans! [Giles] Clarke statement yesterday and this today shows poor management!
Steve Harmison, the former England fast bowler on Twitter

"No KP for the Caribbean tour later this month against West Indies? That's really sad for English/international cricket! Don't let the fans suffer. Was really looking for the hype of having KP in the Caribbean, would be big tickets sales for us. #Sad - Learn to MANAGE Big Names!"
West Indies batsman Chris Gayle on Twitter

"That's a big call regarding a big player, a big-ticket item. He is a guy who believes in his own ability as much as anyone I've ever come across and he outwardly expresses that unashamedly. That does divide opinion. Some people think that's too brash and too arrogant and it's not the way you go about being in a team sport. For me it's a personality better suited to an individual sport, [but] there is a lot of those qualities and traits required in cricket."
Adam Gilchrist, the former Australia wicketkeeper

"KP no longer English property but will remain hot property on the T20 circuit around the world. #IPL #CPL #BBL #RAMSLAM to mention a few!"
Tom Moody, the former Australia allrounder, on Twitter

"Can't believe what's happening with KP! Stay strong boss!"
West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan on Twitter

"I think he is [a loss to international cricket], he was their highest run-scorer, a world-class player, but we don't know what goes on behind closed doors and in their camp, so we can't talk on their behalf ... I know through playing with KP at Delhi, he likes to encourage the other guys coming through. His door's always open if you want to ask him a question, or if you need to work out a plan for the next game, say you're playing Malinga and you're a young kid, he'll give you advice on how to approach that. He's always been helpful to me."
Australia batsman David Warner