Former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff believes that the Kevin Pietersen saga will be forgotten about if the Three Lions do well in their upcoming tour of India.

Pietersen was recalled to the England set-up on Thursday afternoon after being left out of the initial squad to tour India last month after sending ‘provocative’ texts to members of the South African team during the recent Test series between the two sides.

Now though, after a few months of uncertainty, the 32-year-old will be involved for his country in the winter’s action and now Flintoff thinks this Test series will be key in whether the situation is forgotten about or not. He said: "I'm sure there'll be a few words in the dressing room, in certain ears, to make sure it's a smooth transition going back in. But in a few months' time, if we start performing well in India, this will be forgotten." Flintoff then added: "What tends to happen is that when a team's doing well, everyone talks about the team spirit, togetherness and how everyone gets on. It's tested when you don't perform. When you start having a few bad results, little groups form in the dressing room and people start talking, and that's when it can happen."

Many people know that with Pietersen in the England side, they are a stronger outfit and he certainly does increase the chances of a victory in India. Experienced players are just what new captain Alistair Cook needs in these kinds of tough conditions and Pietersen’s quality with the bat and ability to play spin could be key to the team’s hopes. With Ian Bell likely to return home at some point of the series for the birth of his child, it does make the South African born player all the more important to the number two side in the world.

It is going to be a long and tough tour for England, but one they are capable of winning. Whether you will be watching every ball of this series, or keeping an eye on it whilst playing some Classic Fruit Machine Games, it looks to be a thriller and hangs right in the balance.

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