England lack potential to emulate 2010 triumph: Kevin Pietersen

Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has said that the current England regime does not have the required personnel to succeed in the upcoming World T20 in India. England, who are known to loathe Indian conditions have a relatively inexperienced squad. Kevin Pietersen was part of the squad that triumphed in the 2010 edition of the World T20. Pietersen also ended the tournament as the highest run-scorer.

England failed to reach the knockout stages of the World T20 in Bangladesh. To make matters worse, the Brits also lost a humiliating encounter against associate members Netherlands. Kevin Pietersen has also said that the batting lineup will revolve around skipper Eoin Morgan. “I think England’s game changer at the World Cup has to be Eoin Morgan. He is captain and has played a lot of IPL cricket. He is used to the conditions, and with his experience batting at number four, he has got to be the game changer.”

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Moreover, Pietersen has also gone on to predict that Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be the highest wicket-taker in the tournament while Virat Kohli will be the leading run-getter. Kohli has been in amazing form of late with blistering knocks in the tour of Australia and the recently concluded Asia Cup. He also finished the 2014 edition of the World T20 as the top run-getter with 319 runs in the tournament.

Kevin Pietersen made his claim to fame in the 2005 Ashes series in England, a series that remains to be the most exhilarating of Ashes in the rich history of the rivalry. However, a series of controversies and the resignation of captaincy saw Pietersen well and truly ousted from the selection of the ECB. However, the South African-born batsman has been given a lifeline as he will be eligible to play for the Proteas after 2018. “Of course, I have thought about it. Lots of people talk about me playing for South Africa, but at the moment, I am happy doing what I am doing.”