Pietersen Rants on England Batters' Lack of Desire for Big Scores
2 months ago | 5 Views
Kevin Pietersen criticized the English batters for yet another subpar performance during the ongoing tour of India, as the team faced an ODI series defeat with one match remaining. Under the leadership of Jos Buttler, England lost the T20I series 1-4 and currently trails the three-match ODI series 0-2. After winning the toss in the second ODI, England could only manage a disappointing total of 304 runs on a favorable Cuttack pitch. Although Ben Duckett (65) and Joe Root (69) reached the fifty-run milestone, they were unable to convert their innings into centuries, resulting in a 4-wicket loss as India successfully chased down the target with 33 balls to spare.
Pietersen expressed his frustration with the England batters, asserting that their mentality appears to lack the ambition to score substantial runs, suggesting they are content with half-centuries merely to secure their positions in the team.
"It appears to me that there is a distinct absence of hunger and a desire to achieve scores of 130 or 140. That is what is lacking. It seems too easy to settle for 40, 50, or 60 runs. Everything seems acceptable. I’ve got my 50, I’ve got my 60. I’ll likely play the next match. If not, I’ll enjoy a day off and play golf, doing as I please," Pietersen remarked to the broadcasters during the innings break.
In the first ODI, Jos Buttler (52), Jacob Brethell (51), and Phil Salt (43) also made starts but failed to convert their innings into significant scores, preventing England from surpassing the 300-run mark. In contrast, Shubman Gill came close to a century in the series opener with an impressive 87 runs, while Rohit Sharma delivered a remarkable century in Cuttack during the chase.
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Pietersen expressed the view that the batters appear to lack the necessary drive to achieve substantial scores and exhibit a somewhat unyielding attitude towards surpassing the 350-run mark.
"It seems to me that they are missing that crucial element that motivates them to say, 'Come on, let's aim for 100, let's strive for 130.' This team ought to be capable of reaching 350 today. While a total of 304 may still allow them to win this match, they possess a strong opportunity to secure victory. However, they should demonstrate a more ruthless approach to achieve scores of 350 or 360, as they have the talent to do so," he remarked.
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