Former England cricketer and captain Kevin Pietersen has stated that it is “stupid” to blame the Indian Premier League (IPL) for England players’ poor performance in the recently concluded Ashes.
England lost the away Ashes series 4-0 against Australia, and only managed to draw one match, and that too at the skin of teeth. England team’s form in Test cricket is considerably questionable.
After the poor form in the Ashes series, many cricketing experts from England has put the blame on the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the players’ performance in the Ashes 2021-2022 series.
However, the former England batsman and captain Kevin Pietersen has completely blown off them by saying that it is stupid to put to the blame on IPL for the players’ performance.
Kevin Pietersen, who is right now participating in the Legends League Cricket representing World Giants, stated during a interaction that putting the blame on IPL for the demise of Test cricket in England is “Stupid”.
He said that it is the system that is hurting the England Test team as he believes that the County Championship, England’s domestic 4 day tournament, has lost its standard.
He further added that it is only Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes from the England Test team that plays in the IPL, and none other England Test players play in the league.
"It is stupid. You can’t blame the #IPL for the demise of Test cricket in England. It’s crazy. I’ve commented on it quite a lot. It’s the system, it’s the county cricket system, which is poor. So there’s no blame,” – Kevin Pietersen.#IPL2022
— CricMady (@CricMady) January 21, 2022
England cricket team’s form in Test cricket has been pretty terrible in the recent times. Not only did they lost the Ashes 4-0, they are also trailing India by 2-1 in the Test series was played in August, with the decider set to take place in 2022 after the 5th match was postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
While England’s limited overs team have tasted success in 50 overs and 20 overs cricket, Test cricket has massive let them down.
England will next play a Test series against West Indies from the 8th of March till the 24th March.
