Kevin Pietersen blasts Keaton Jennings and urges England to drop Stuart Broad
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Kevin Pietersen has slammed Keaton Jennings and called on England to drop Stuart Broad for this winter’s tour to Sri Lanka.
Jennings struggled during the recent Test series against India, scoring just 163 runs in nine innings at an average of 18.
Despite his loss of form, Jennings is expected to make the squad for Sri Lanka, with National Selector Ed Smith publicly backing him to perform.
But former England batsman Pietersen is less than convinced and thinks the Three Lions need to search for two new openers after Alastair Cook retired.
‘It is brilliant that Rory Burns is predicted to go on the tour of Sri Lanka. That is going to be wonderful,’ he told talkSPORT.
‘Jennings can’t bat, I’m sorry. They are going to have to find somebody else.
‘Cook is a big loss. I know he has been wishy-washy over the last couple of months but he finished on a fairy tale ending, which is brilliant for him but to replace that kind of guy at the top of the order, it is going to be difficult.’
On the general standard of county cricket, Pietersen added: ‘I just don’t see county cricket producing Test cricketers at the moment. The issue is deep-rooted.
‘All the best players in the world now are not playing county cricket. They are earning their cash in franchise cricket.
‘Therefore, the standard of county cricket isn’t great, the standard of county batsmen is poor, and it is causing a massive issue in cabs on the rank for batting places.’
James Vince, who played in all five Ashes Tests last winter, is in contention to be recalled for the tour to Sri Lanka, but Pietersen believes England should look elsewhere.
He said: ‘I’m not a massive fan of [James] Vince, if I’m honest. He had his chances. I watched him play down under last year.
‘He played nicely, but I just didn’t like the way he went about his business on a couple of occasions when the ball started to bounce. For the tour of South Africa next year, the ball will bounce.
‘I like Jason Roy. He has got oomph, he has got guts, he has got runs at the top of the order in Australia. He scored that brilliant 180 at the MCG.
‘It is about how guys score their runs and what their personalities are like. I would be all for Roy at the top of the order with Rory Burns.
‘I don’t think Moeen Ali is a number three. He wasn’t playing his natural game [against India], he is more free-flowing down the order.’
Pietersen also welcomed the news fast bowler Broad could be dropped this winter.
The 32-year-old has taken 433 Test wickets and is currently eighth on the list of all-time wicket-takers.
‘I would have dropped him last winter,’ Pietersen continued. ‘He doesn’t perform that well away from home.
‘He had one good Ashes series and what he delivered for England in the big Ashes series last year was hopeless.
‘I’ve been on tours of the sub-continent, he doesn’t like touring the sub-continent so it wouldn’t surprise me and it would be a very good move if they dropped him.’
Jennings struggled during the recent Test series against India, scoring just 163 runs in nine innings at an average of 18.
Despite his loss of form, Jennings is expected to make the squad for Sri Lanka, with National Selector Ed Smith publicly backing him to perform.
But former England batsman Pietersen is less than convinced and thinks the Three Lions need to search for two new openers after Alastair Cook retired.
‘It is brilliant that Rory Burns is predicted to go on the tour of Sri Lanka. That is going to be wonderful,’ he told talkSPORT.
‘Jennings can’t bat, I’m sorry. They are going to have to find somebody else.
‘Cook is a big loss. I know he has been wishy-washy over the last couple of months but he finished on a fairy tale ending, which is brilliant for him but to replace that kind of guy at the top of the order, it is going to be difficult.’
On the general standard of county cricket, Pietersen added: ‘I just don’t see county cricket producing Test cricketers at the moment. The issue is deep-rooted.
‘All the best players in the world now are not playing county cricket. They are earning their cash in franchise cricket.
‘Therefore, the standard of county cricket isn’t great, the standard of county batsmen is poor, and it is causing a massive issue in cabs on the rank for batting places.’
James Vince, who played in all five Ashes Tests last winter, is in contention to be recalled for the tour to Sri Lanka, but Pietersen believes England should look elsewhere.
He said: ‘I’m not a massive fan of [James] Vince, if I’m honest. He had his chances. I watched him play down under last year.
‘He played nicely, but I just didn’t like the way he went about his business on a couple of occasions when the ball started to bounce. For the tour of South Africa next year, the ball will bounce.
‘I like Jason Roy. He has got oomph, he has got guts, he has got runs at the top of the order in Australia. He scored that brilliant 180 at the MCG.
‘It is about how guys score their runs and what their personalities are like. I would be all for Roy at the top of the order with Rory Burns.
‘I don’t think Moeen Ali is a number three. He wasn’t playing his natural game [against India], he is more free-flowing down the order.’
Pietersen also welcomed the news fast bowler Broad could be dropped this winter.
The 32-year-old has taken 433 Test wickets and is currently eighth on the list of all-time wicket-takers.
‘I would have dropped him last winter,’ Pietersen continued. ‘He doesn’t perform that well away from home.
‘He had one good Ashes series and what he delivered for England in the big Ashes series last year was hopeless.
‘I’ve been on tours of the sub-continent, he doesn’t like touring the sub-continent so it wouldn’t surprise me and it would be a very good move if they dropped him.’
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