“Leading into Headingley, all of this needs to stop” – Kevin Pietersen not happy with England’s bold statements after going 0-2 in Ashes 2023
Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen is not happy with the hosts’ performances after they lost the second consecutive match of the Ashes 2023 at Lord’s on last Sunday. After losing the dramatic second Test by 43 runs against Australia, they are now trailing at 0-2 in the five-match Ashes.
Pietersen feels that England need to stop giving bold statements heading into Headingley for the third Test match. He said how some of England’s players have given statements in the media in the series so far and how their comments backfired after the loss. He also mentioned that they are pretending to be the greatest team but in reality, they are on the way to losing first Ashes after 2001 in their own backyard.
“If you’re going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk, and this England cricket team isn’t walking the walk. They’re acting like they’re the greatest team around, but they’re currently on course to be the first England team to lose at home to Australia since 2001”, Pietersen in his article about England players talking to the media.
“After the first Test match, Ollie Robinson said that they felt like they won the game, Jimmy Anderson was complaining that the wicket was like kryptonite, and then you’ve got Zak Crawley saying they’re going to win the next one by 150 runs. Leading into Headingley, all of this needs to stop. The pressure that they’re putting themselves under by speaking that way and using that language is unnecessary. It’s not helping in any way, shape, or form”, he added.
“There’s so much relaxed talk” – Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen, the greatest English cricketer of his time, later spoke about how WTC winner Australia took control of Lord’s Test after they were given the chance to take the first-innings lead.
“When they get their foot on the throat, they will absolutely push and push and push to destroy you. That’s how they play this sport. They have that mongrel in them. I don’t see the mongrel in the England cricket team. There’s so much relaxed talk. It’s like, ‘Hey, this is the coolest environment, we’re having the best time ever.’ Unfortunately, all that matters is winning”, Pietersen said.
The third Test match will be played from July 6-10 at Headingley, Leeds and England need to win this game at any cost to stay alive in the Ashes 2023.
