Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen criticized English selectors for not choosing goalkeeper Jonny Bairstow in the squad for the first two Tests against India. In a tweet, Pietersen said that not selecting the best players in the squad would be disrespectful to the host India.
England have rested Bairstow for the first two Tests as part of ECB’s player management policy, which emphasizes giving all English cricketers adequate rest in a packed calendar year, which includes 17 Tests and the ICC T20 World Cup .
Along with the dynamic batsman, England also left sailors Sam Curran and Mark Wood from the squad for the first two Tests.
Criticizing the selection of the squad, Pietersen wrote on Twitter: “A big debate about whether ENG has selected their best team to play India in the 1st Test. Winning in India is as good a feeling as winning in Aus. It’s disrespectful to ENG fans and also @BCCI to NOT play your best team. Bairstow must play! Broad / Anderson must play. ”
In another tweet, Pieterson said that the best players would not want to miss out on a home-side Indian team while suggesting that players can be rested after the Indian Premier League.
“England’s BEST players will want to play as many games as possible against India, in India. PICK them! Then they go to IPL and earn everything they deserve. Cash is king of every sports player. They are a business! They can have a break after that, ”he added. (Hindustani Times)