After losing the first Test of the Ashes 2023, England failed to capitalise on the conditions in the second Test too. In the ongoing Test at Lord’s, England failed to grip the game on Day 1 as bowlers didn’t bowl according to the conditions. Speaking about the same former England skipper Kevin Pietersen slammed Ben Stokes and company and said that their attitude and said that team had been symbolic.
However, his comments didn’t go well with the cricket fans and pundits across the country. A former England cricketer and Pietersen’s teammate slammed him. Ashes-winning former pacer Steve Harmison said that Pietersen is paid to say things like this. “I don’t think it was justified. I think this team has had one or two bad days in the past 12–13 months. Some of the stuff that they were having a go at them for, too, matey, I think there’s a time and a place”, he told Sky Sports.
“But they’re in the mainstream media; they’re paid to give their opinion, and I’m not going to knock Kevin for having his opinion; he’s always had it. He was always forceful with it; it wasn’t always warranted, and it wasn’t always well received! I’m sure it wasn’t best received in the England dressing room (ahead of day two), and it certainly wasn’t best received by the England dressing room when we were in it”, Harmison further added.
“There was a lot of frustration”, says Steve Harmison.
Further speaking about Kevin Pietersen’s opinion Harmison said that one should keep in mind that it’s a Test match. He further said, “But a few of us could say to Kevin, in no uncertain terms, to shut up. But he’s getting paid to give his opinion. I think at times there was a lot of frustration (on day one), but you’ve got to look at it in a five-day way. If he said that on day five when England have just been beaten, I’d probably agree with him.”
It’s worth noting that Pietersen has been critical of England since their loss in the first Test. After the second session of Day 1, Pietersen said, England has been shambolic. Absolutely shambolic,” he told Sky Sports. “You have overhead conditions, you have a wicket that suits your bowlers, and you’ve got bowlers running in at 78, 79, and 80mph.”
“The Australians were outside to bat before England’s bowlers. England’s bowlers should’ve been on those stairs this morning saying, We want to bowl at Australia; we’re desperate to bowl at them. These two batters are waiting for England, and that shouldn’t be the case”, he further added.
