Ashes 2017-18 Kevin Pietersen responds Pat Cummins’ ‘Bouncers’ Comment in Style
Oct 13, 2017 at 8:27 PM
England star batsman has slammed Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins’ verbal volley when the latter warned the Three Lions batsmen to be prepared for tasting the short-pitch ploy on the upcoming Ashes 2017-18 tour which has been slated for November 23 in Brisbane.
“Just read that an Aussie fast bowler has told ENG to prepare for bouncers in Aus!,” Pietersen said in a series of Tweets on his official handle.
The 37-year-old right-handed batsman Pietersen went step ahead by taking the jibe at the Australian pace portent Cummins by saying such things have become old now.
“EVERY ashes tour down under the media lead with this story,” Pietersen added over microblogging site.
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The Pietermaritzburg-born Pietersen was further enraged after the 24-year-old Cummins told newly-appointed Joe Root-led England batters – to practice hard for the bouncers back home, before the series Down Under.
“Hope you practice your bouncers because we’ll be bowling a lot of them,” Cummins maintained in Sydney pressed and was quoted by Reuters.
Pertinently, the Westmead-born right-arm fast bowler Cummins, who was injury-marred after bursting onto the international scene at the age of 18, has eventually become the first-choice for Cricket Australia selectors.
Banking on the pace reliance, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood would play an integral role in the Magellan Ashes series after recovering from injury, as latest sensation Jason Behrendorff, is also making his case stronger in the ongoing bilateral series against India.
Owing to the bouncy condition in Australia, Cummins, who threatened the England players believes the strength for hosts would be pace and accuracy on the lively surfaces, as he went on to say the England have opted to play on wickets which has been on the slower side.
“They play on slower wickets, not as much bounce, so over here… It’s one of our biggest strengths. We grow up on these wickets and as bowlers getting bounce has always been really important,” Cummins asserted this week.
However, when Australia hosted England and the Three Lions were drubbed 5-0 when the visitors’ batsmen struggled to acclimatize to the conditions.
Pietersen with the tongue-in-cheek comment stated the media might come up with the headline where players will speak about the ‘sledging’ while adding the statement would further come as a prediction of the whitewash.
“Next Ashes headline – Prepare for a barrage of sledging…! Then… A 5-0 drubbing on its way…!,” Pietersen posted.
Pietersen believes the professionals are there to don the national white jersey with such pride and passion, as their aim is high – to give their best on field.
While taken a dig at Cummins, Pietersen remarked the players should not think for grabbing the headlines, as he feels the performance has a last say.
“You don’t walk out to bat or bowl thinking about a headline!,” Pietersen maintained.
Pietersen, who played 104 Tests to score 8,181, runs at an average of 47.28, reiterated the runs and wickets would count and eventually decide the five-match series while ruling out the effect of pre-series warnings.
“The facts of the matter are, all pre-Ashes chat counts for f all! All that counts is runs & wickets!,” Pietersen stated.
Pietersen made his debut for England in 2004. He played 136 One-day internationals and 37 Twenty20 internationals fixtures.
Here’re the Tweets from fired-up Kevin Pietersen:
https://twitter.com/KP24/status/918704342084960256
https://twitter.com/KP24/status/918706070180184065
https://twitter.com/KP24/status/918708491560263680