Kevin Pietersen apologises for Twitter outburst

Kevin Pietersen has begun the process of trying to salvage what is left of his summer, by apologising for his Twitter outburst after being dropped by England and making his debut for new county Surrey.

It remains to be seen if the apology has the desired effect of placating the English cricketing establishment, but his first day at the Oval was hardly scintillating.

He took his bow for Surrey in a 40-over evening game against Worcestershire and then watched as the visitors scored a massive 376, which included a century for another England outcast Vikram Solanki. Pietersen bowled one over, which was dispatched for 17 runs.

He came out to bat with the score on 52-1 and the scene was set for another of the pyrotechnic displays that he has made a habit of putting on at the Oval ever since he scored a famous 158 in 2005 to help England win the Ashes.

But, once again this summer, it was not to be. Pietersen survived a big LBW shout on eight, was dropped on 25 and eventually snaffled, caught and bowled, by youngster Shaaiq Choudhry for a scratchy 38. For the record Surrey lost by 90 runs.

If that innings failed to send out a message, Pietersen must be hoping that he has soothed the feelings of the chairman of selectors Geoff Miller by apologising for his foul-mouthed Tweet. Miller went on the record to register his disapproval after reading Pietersen's reaction to being dropped for the T20 and one-day series against Pakistan.

Miller suggested that the England cricket set-up should follow the lead of many football clubs and ban social networking sites. He said: "Writing columns in newspapers or whatever leaves a player open to making questionable statements and I see this twitter in the same boat. I'm not for it I must admit."

But Pietersen was contrite prior to his Surrey debut. "It was a mistake that the Tweet went out there," he confessed. "It wasn't anything against the England selectors or the England set-up. I was pretty upset about my own form and frustrated about it too.

"I have spoken to the coach [Andy Flower] T20 captain [Paul Collingwood] chair of selectors [Miller] and the managing director of English cricket [Hugh Morris] and they all totally understand so it's onwards and upwards from now." ·