Jammu, Nov 29: Former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen who’s right here in Jammu for the Legends League just isn’t impressed by the refurbished Maulana Azad Stadium and considers the wicket not adequate for the shortest format of the sport.
“The wicket just isn’t good for T20 cricket,” he advised reporters on the sidelines of a follow session on Tuesday.
The commentator described the efficiency of his nation’s nationwide staff within the lately concluded World Cup as “horrible” and mentioned he threw his lot behind India within the closing towards Australia – a wager he ultimately misplaced.
Within the closing performed on November 19, Australia lifted the ICC Males’s ODI World Cup for the sixth time by defeating India.
The 43-year-old, who’s right here as a part of the Legends League T20 cricket season 2, praised the chance the league affords to retired gamers to be on the sphere once more as gamers.
Six Legends League groups with greater than 100 former worldwide gamers are right here for the third leg of the match, which is being hosted by the Maulana Azad Stadium, resurrected after a spot of over three a long time.
The primary of the 4 matches was performed on the 20,000-capacity stadium below floodlights on Monday whereas the remaining three matches are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
“It (Jammu) is wonderful. I’ve been travelling lots in India for the final 20 years and that is my first time in Jammu, trying ahead to taking part in a sport (immediately) and tomorrow night time as effectively,” Pietersen mentioned forward of match 2.
“We had been being sorted very properly. The hospitality is as at all times nowhere seen on the planet and the hospitality is magnificent. We had a beautiful time,” he mentioned, including, although he was fairly busy with all his work, he freed a while to play golf on the Jammu Tawi golf course on Tuesday.
“I really like my golf so I find time for it however sadly not a lot time for the rest. It was very good to be out, the golf course was for us a pleasant little 4 hours exterior the lodge which was nice,” the cricketer mentioned when requested whether or not he visited any in style locations over the previous couple of days.
The previous batter appeared a bit downcast by the low-scoring sport on Monday and mentioned that the folks wish to see aggressive cricket and see the ex-professionals truly competing.
“The wicket (within the M A Stadium) just isn’t good for T20 cricket. You wish to see extra runs than see the balls rolling alongside the bottom. Allow us to see if the wicket is healthier (for the subsequent match) that will probably be good. For the groups to complete the sport within the twentieth over as just a few (matches) had gone, it’s nice for the competitors,” he mentioned.
On the World Cup closing, he mentioned there was quite a lot of strain on the Indian gamers as they had been pitted towards a formidable opponent.
“Sadly, if you come up towards Australia like I’ve finished many instances … Australia is a formidable competitor they usually have the flexibility to show up the warmth within the closing and get the job finished.
“They’re very very aggressive guys and unlucky for India … Australia had been good on the sphere and good with the ball. And after they got here out to bat, 230 or 240 was by no means ever sufficient,” he mentioned.
Pietersen referred to as his personal nation’s efficiency within the World Cup “horrible” and mentioned nobody thought it will not attain the ultimate.
“I mentioned earlier than the match when India was taking part in towards England in Guwahati that these are the 2 finalists, nobody ever anticipated what occurred to England,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the Legends League has a really “severe momentum.” “I believe there is a chance for this league to develop for gamers to retire slightly bit earlier in the event that they end with IPL and franchise cricket world wide and they don’t get the additional contract.
“I believe gamers will probably be taking a look at this league as a result of it’s aggressive, it’s run effectively and logistically improbable. So with the competitors on supply and the chance to play on the highest degree, I believe that it’s got a severe momentum to do effectively,” he mentioned. (Businesses)
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