Former England player Kevin Pietersen slammed the visiting team for not conducting a single training session since losing the T20I series and the subsequent first ODI against India. After being trounced 4-1 in the shortest format, England were blanked 3-0 in the 50-over format.
On a hapless tour of India, England suffered their second-heaviest defeat by runs on Wednesday in the third ODI after India piled on a massive 356/5. In reply, Jos Buttler’s men mustered only 214 before being bundled inside 35 overs.
With a week to go to the start of the ICC Champions Trophy, the Indian team attended the optional net session in Cuttack before the second ODI. The visiting England team, however, stayed back at their hotel in Bhubaneswar and held a golf session.
“I’m sorry, but I am absolutely gobsmacked that England did not have ONE team practice session since losing the 1st ODI and losing the T20 series. How can this be? Seriously, how? I believe Joe Root was the only player to have a net this series, post Nagpur,” Pietersen wrote on X in a scathing assessment.
“There isn’t a single sportsman on this planet who can honestly say, that they’d improve without practising whilst they’re getting beaten. There also cannot be one player in that England side that can sit on the plane leaving India and saying to themselves, they did everything they can to try help England win. And for that, I’m am actually incredibly sad this evening. Losing is fine if you’re giving your best to improve every day and if England didn’t train during this series then they didn’t try. Heartbreaking for any England fan!” Pietersen added.
On Thursday morning, after Buttler defended England’s approach, Pietersen slammed the media for defending the visiting team. He also stressed the only way to improve was by attending the net sessions.
“Just got sent an article where a leading UK journo has said that Shastri & I got it wrong last night when discussing England not training. Reason – injuries and quick turnaround between games…! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
“Do me a f*****g favour! Stop writing about cricket if you’re going to write such rubbish. Injuries are part of sport and this schedule is like every bilateral series almost ever played.
“Injuries are NOT stopping batters from batting against net bowlers and learning the art of playing spin. And that’s where they should have been to IMPROVE! Trust me on this one as it saved my career against spin!
“It seems the journos are in cahoots with what we’re trying to be brainwashed into believing! You won’t fool the fan with such!,” he wrote on X.
Buttler defends England team
“I’m not sure that’s quite true, to be honest. We had a reasonably long tour, a few long travel days. There’s been a couple of times we’ve not trained, but we’ve certainly done plenty of training throughout the tour,” Buttler said in Ahmedabad.
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“We obviously try and create a really good environment, but don’t mistake that for a lazy environment or a lack of effort. The guys are desperate to perform and do well and improve,” Buttler added.
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