Big Disrespect To BCCI And English Fans To Not Play Best Team: Kevin Pietersen

Jan 24, 2021 at 7:04 PM

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Big Disrespect To BCCI And English Fans To Not Play Best Team: Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen, former England skipper on Sunday said that it would be disrespectful to the Indian cricket team if England does not play their best XI in the upcoming four-match Test series.

England and India are set to lock horns in a four-match Test series, beginning February 5 in Chennai followed by five T20Is and three ODIs.

Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Kevin Pietersen: Big Debate Whether England Have Picked Best Team For 1st Test

The England selectors have rested Jonny Bairstow for the first two Tests, while wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler will return home after the first Test. Kevin Pietersen tweeted that winning in India is as good a feeling as winning in Australia. Kevin Pietersen further questioned whether England have picked the best team to confront India who are top-ranked Test team and will play after a successful Australia Test tour and also will have home conditions advantage.

https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1353245716295147520?s=20

https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1353247100507721728?s=20

Jonny Bairstow
Jonny Bairstow (Image Credit: Google)

In the ongoing series against Sri Lanka, England played Stuart Broad in the first Test, while in the ongoing second Test, Stuart Broad was rested and in place of him, James Anderson came into the playing XI.

England are 339/9 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 381 with Joe Root dismissed by run out after scoring 186. James Anderson took 6 wickets. In the first Test England won by 7 wickets. Joe Root scored 228 in the first innings but was run out after scoring 1 in 2nd innings.

Jonny Bairstow Left Out Of 16 Man Squad While Sam Curran And Mark Wood Have Been Rested

Jonny Bairstow was left out of the 16-man squad for the first two Tests in India while openers Zack Crawley and Dom Sibley were part of that squad. The national selectors have rested Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, and Mark Wood for the first and second Tests in India.

Sam Curran
Sam Curran. Photo Credit: BCCI/IPL.

Under the leadership of Joe Root, England will be looking to show a spirited performance to bolster their chances of making it to the finals of the World Test Championship in June.

Jos Buttler will play 1st Test and then return home missing the final 3 Tests. Rory Burns missed Sri Lanka Tests on paternity leave while Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes were rested. Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Mark Wood will head home after Sri Lanka’s 2nd Test’s conclusion but the trio will return for 3rd and 4th Tests at Ahmedabad. Ben Foakes will keep wickets while Ollie Pope will be added to the squad if deemed fit enough.

England’ squad: Joe Root (Yorkshire) (captain), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Dom Bess (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).

Reserves: James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Amar Virdi (Surrey).

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