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Andrew Strauss has apologised after branding Kevin Pietersen an “absolute c***” in an embarrassing TV gaffe on Saturday.

Sky TV have been forced to apologise to viewers in Australia after former England cricket captain Strauss was heard making the comment on a live mic, when he apparently thought he was off-air.

And Strauss himself has said sorry to KP.

"I apologise unreservedly, particularly to Kevin Pietersen. I am mortified and profusely sorry," he said.

Sky's coverage of the MCC's bicentenary match against the Rest of the World at Lords, where Pitersen was playing, had gone to a break but was still live for Fox Sports viewers down under when Strauss let rip.

The former England skipper - who clashed with Pietersen during his tenure - thought the mics were switched off as he made the comment to fellow commentator Nick Knight.

Piers Morgan, a close friend of Pietersen and a champion of his cause on social media since he was sacked by the ECB in February, called for Strauss to lose his job if the comments were verified.

The broadcaster tweeted: "If Strauss story is true then he'll have to be fired, surely? Or is a commentator calling @KP24 a 'c**t' on air acceptable @SkyCricket?

"After all, Strauss himself axed KP from his England team for allegedly saying similar things about him that were't even broadcast."

Morgan's latter comments refer to a troubled past between the former team-mates.

Pietersen was suspended for one test in 2012 after sending derogatory texts to South African team calling Strauss something very similar - and clearly tensions are still high.

Sky apologised for Strauss' comments on Twitter shortly after it happened.