England's preparations for the Ashes summer ahead continue to be beset by controversy - with Stuart Broad at the centre of their latest spot of bother, instead of Kevin Pietersen for once.
New England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss has spent his first week in charge firefighting after overseeing the sacking of coach Peter Moores and then deciding there was no way back into the team after all for Pietersen.
That furore left Strauss having to explain himself many times over in a marathon round of interviews at Lord's on Tuesday.
Three days later, it was incoming chairman Colin Graves' turn - at the official start of his five-year tenure during the ECB's annual general meeting, also at HQ - to account for his actions after Pietersen accused the governing body of being "incredibly deceitful".
But the week ended with fresh intrigue, thanks to Broad's non-attendance across London at a media event on behalf of Test match sponsors Investec on Thursday to promote the two-Test series against New Zealand.
Broad cited illness, and team-mate Ian Bell instead stepped in to take questions from the press - largely about the continued absence of Pietersen from England's plans, resulting according to ex-Test captain Strauss from a "massive trust issue".
The ECB insists it remains satisfied with the reason given by Broad and his advisers for his absence, that he was under the weather, unless or until there is any contradictory evidence.
Reports were published, however, that he was unable to rouse himself in time because of a night out drinking.
The Daily Mail has attributed a claim that Broad did not return to his hotel until 7am to a receptionist on duty at the time.
The newspaper adds that the fast bowler spent the entire night drinking with former England players Andrew Flintoff and Matt Prior.
An ECB spokesman said: "We are aware Stuart Broad was scheduled to appear at a sponsors' event, but was unable to, and we were told it was due to illness."
Investec have announced Broad will instead speak to the media on Sunday afternoon.
With the first Test set to begin at Lord's next Thursday, Graves countered Pietersen's contention that he was misled in telephone conversations with the chairman into believing that he could return to the England fold by proving his form with Surrey.
Pietersen hit a maiden triple-century against Leicestershire only to be informed hours later by Strauss on Monday night that he would not be considered for selection this summer because of lingering mistrust from previous problems in his brilliant but chequered career.
Graves defended his integrity in a blog to England supporters on the ECB website, insisting he never gave the 34-year-old batsman any promises or guarantees about returning to Test cricket.
Graves wrote: "Throughout my business career and my years at Yorkshire, integrity has been my watchword. It governs everything I do and is an important part of what I bring to the ECB.
"I didn't make any promises. There were no guarantees that if he chose to exit his IPL [Indian Premier League] contract, play county cricket and score runs he would be selected for England - and I said he should make any decision on his future on that basis."
Source: PA
