“Banned Me From T20s Too”: Kevin Pietersen’s Dig At ECB After Ben Stokes Quits ODIs
Kevin Pietersen is among several cricketers who have come out and criticised the current cricketing schedule following Ben Stokes' ODI retirement.
Ben Stokes’ premature retirement from ODIs has raised concerns in world cricket. The England Test captain, in his statement announcing ODI retirement, clearly mentioned: “Three formats are just unsustainable for me now.
Not only do I feel that my body is letting me down because of the schedule and what is expected of us, but I also feel that I am taking the place of another player who can give Jos and the rest of the team their all. It’s time for someone else to progress as a cricketer and make incredible memories like I have over the past 11 years.”
Stokes’ statement has raised a debate on whether too much cricket is being played currently. Speaking on the issue, former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen took a dig at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
“I once said the schedule was horrendous and I couldn’t cope, so I retired from ODI cricket & the ECB banned me from T20s too…………” Pietersen wrote in a tweet.
Pietersen had a hot-and-cold relationship with the ECB. Despite being a top batter, he often had run-ins with the cricket board. Pietersen played 104 Tests, 136 ODIs and 37 T20Is for England scoring 8181, 4440, 1176 runs in the three formats respectively. He also played for several IPL franchises.
Unhappy over Stokes’ early retirement from the format, another former England captain Michael Vaughan pointed out that both bilateral series and franchise cricket cannot go hand in hand.
“Bi lateral ODI / T20 series will have to go if all the boards around the world are desperate for there own Franchise tournaments !! Something has to give .. It shouldn’t be players retiring from one format aged 31 !!!!” said Vaughan in a tweet on Monday.