Former England batsman and Big Bash franchise Melbourne Stars recruit Kevin Pietersen has responded to Australian Head coach Darren Lehmann over his Twitter remark while urging Stars to “move KP on” after English import could just score five in 10 balls in a BBL semi-final clash against Perth Scorchers.
“@KP24 @tensporttv @BBL time for stars to move KP on, spent too much money on him and didn’t win. Don’t want to listen to his excuses anymore,” Lehmann tweeted.
“I can only do my best for the Stars and I think I’ve done pretty well. What a bummer that one is. First year I shared player of the year, second year I was player of the year, this year I have top-scored,” Pietersen told Tiffany Cherry, who’s a sports newscaster.
The Natal-born Pietersen is the sixth on the BBL batting rankings list while stating that he is excited to play in Australia while considering it as his second home.
“So I’m very happy where I am, I love playing in Australia, I love playing for the Melbourne Stars and it’s like home to me,” Pietersen said.
The 36-year-old right-handed batsman Pietersen has finished as the leading run-getter for Stars with 268 runs in eight games at an average of 38.29. Pietersen has also talked about his rhino campaign.
“I also think that the Stars probably wouldn’t have got involved from a team or a campaign (perspective) in such a huge way for the rhinos (an awareness initiative against poaching) if I didn’t offer anything to the franchise,” Pietersen added.
Pietersen has also signed a contract for next year’s BBL edition with Stars which includes the lucrative league’s promotions and television commentary. The deal has been stated around whooping $200,000.
“He does a lot of marketing, a lot of promotion. Up until now the Melbourne Stars are very happy with the way he has contributed,” the Stars board member Damien Fleming said.
The Stars skipper David Hussey who called it a day after the semi-final loss by seven wickets against Scorchers, has backed his teammate Pietersen by saying that he will make a strong comeback in the next season.
“KP’s not the highest paid player at the Stars for a start. The last three Big Bash Leagues, KP is second only to Chris Lynn for runs scored. Why would Darren Lehmann be sticking his head into the Melbourne Stars?,” Stars president Eddie McGuire concluded.