‘Gutted as an Englishman’ – Kevin Pietersen tears into Jos Buttler after England ODI whitewash
The England cricket team have endured a disastrous white ball tour of India ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Three Lions managed to register only one win in the five-match T20I series while being swept clean in the three-match ODI series.
In what was their final game of the series on Thursday, India managed to put up a staggering score of 356. In response, England barely looked their part in the chase and were restricted to just 214 runs, marking a meek surrender.
Former England star batsman Kevin Pietersen, who is in India as a commentator, has been critical of the team’s reckless batting strategy under Brendon McCullum. He also recently remarked that one of the reasons for the team’s failure during the white ball series was down to their lack of practice sessions.
Pietersen has been critical of most England players during the tour. However, he has been supportive of Joe Root, whom he noted was the only batter to take part in nets sessions.
Speaking post-match following England’s series defeat, Pietersen said: “They had one practice session, the day before the Nagpur game. They haven’t practised since. The only batter who had a net session was Joe Root. Sorry, but you cannot come to the sub-continent, keep on making the same mistake and then not practice.”
“There is not a single sportsperson who goes into a series, into a career and decides ‘I am going to get better without practice.’ I am sorry,” Pietersen said. “I was flabbergasted when I learnt England hasn’t practiced since the first game.
“You practice so that you leave on a flight tomorrow knowing ‘I have given my everything to win a game of cricket for England’. There is not one person in that England dressing room that can get on a plane tomorrow, maybe Joe Root because he is the only one who tried and practised.
“I am gutted, that I have to say that you can disrespect Indian conditions and India so much. I am gutted as an Englishman.”
The former English captain’s statement comes on the back of some awful displays with the bat by the England team. The only two English batters who recorded over 100 runs across the three innings were opener Ben Duckett and Root, who made his ODI comeback for the first time since the 2023 World Cup.
Coach McCullum will have a lot on his plate ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. With the middle order struggling against spin, it was always going to be extremely challenging to find success in the Indian subcontinent.
England will face Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa in their three group stage games in the Champions Trophy.
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