Cricket World Cup: Andrew Strauss provides Kevin Pietersen relationship update after bitter England fall-out

Pietersen texted some of the Proteas players to slam Strauss and the way he was leading the take.

South Africa went on to win the series 2-0 and gazumped England to become the new No 1 team in the world.

It was a bitter spat between the pair, with Strauss even once criticising Pietersen while commentating for Sky Sports.

And now, speaking to Gambling Zone, the former England batter has revealed he and Pietersen's relationship has improved.

“The whole KP saga that unfolded at the backend of my career was a horrible way to go out, quite frankly," he said.

"I’m sure we’ve all got regrets about how that played out in the public eye.

“You’ve always got to ask yourself that question, ‘could it have been avoided?’

"By the time it got to that point, it was too late.

"There were undoubtedly things that could have happened before that, by the ECB, by myself and Andy Flower or by KP and some of the other players in the team.

“You want every team to feel like you’re pushing in the same direction and there were times where it wasn’t a high-functioning team, which is a shame because it had been up to that point.

"The moment you assume is everything is okay is sowing the seeds with your own downfall.

“It’s water well under the bridge and we played golf together a couple of months ago and did some work together with Sky. It’s all in the distant past.”

Strauss was speaking ahead of the Cricket World Cup, which is due to commence on Thursday.

England, who are the defending champions following their triumph in 2019, are among the favourites to reign supreme.

But Strauss thinks it'll be hosts India who end up lifting the trophy, adding: "The facilities and the pitches in India have improved, however, I still believe you need an adaptable team to win in India that has a strong balance to it.

"You can't just rely on spin, you can't rely on just fast bowling, you have to be able to deal with the dew, and you need batters who can attack a spin bowler or a pace bowler opening the bowling as well.

"When you look at teams who can win this competition you are looking at teams with the best balance for that reason.

"For me, India have to be favourites and it would be ridiculous to suggest otherwise because India are the number one team in the world and they have such a strong squad without a single weakness.

"It seems baffling that anyone wouldn't have them as their favourites for the tournament, but that doesn't mean they are going to win it."

England are, according to Strauss, second favourites.

"I think England have a very good chance, I would put them as second favourites for the tournament behind India," he continued.

"There is a lot of confidence, a lot of experience, a very good captain, a well-balanced bowling attack and big game players like Stokes and Buttler who know how to do it when it really matters.

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"It's very hard to see weaknesses in the England squad, but you're in Indian conditions and England haven't always performed well under those conditions.

"It is still so hard to beat India on their own patch.”

And Strauss has also hailed England for improving as a ODI team, with the 46-year-old adding: "England have taken it to a new level; they've scored 450 and 480 in recent times and, even though it is harder to play like that at a World Cup, scoring in the game has gone up and some teams have really pushed it to another degree, with England at the forefront.

"Generally at World Cup's you see a progression of the sport, in some way.

"Teams try different tactics, new philosophies are embedded for the first time on the World stage and the game is never quite the same again."