England batting great Kevin Pietersen has been left perplexed by his nation’s decision to overlook “absolute genius” and Surrey protege Jason Roy, a man he believes capable of filling the void left by his enforced absence.
Pietersen, 34, has endured a tumultuous 2014. His outstanding international career with England containing 8,181 runs in 104 Tests and victory at the 2010 World Twenty20 seemingly ended after being ostracised in February following the Ashes debacle against Australia.
This situation was amplified last month after he released an explosive autobiography in which he made a withering assessment of former team director Andy Flower and his national set-up.
The sidelining of the South Africa-born star has left a gap in the England batting line-up they have struggled to fill. Alastair Cook’s team endured successive one-day international series defeats to Sri Lanka and India recently. And there isn’t much time to recover as the World Cup is a little over three months away.
Eoin Morgan has scored more than 50 only twice in the format during 2014, Joe Root flickered intermittently in limited overs cricket and captain Cook’s form remains a concern.
Pietersen said he was unable to understand why Roy, who featured in a sole Twenty20 defeat to India in September, has not been given more chances. This despite the 24-year-old finishing the NatWest T20 Blast as the tournament’s top scorer, his 677 runs coming at an average of 48.35 and a stunning strike-rate of 157.
When asked who he would like to see come into the line-up in his absence, Pietersen replied: “I think they have missed out on Jason Roy. Jason has been playing like an absolute genius for the last six to eight months.
“When you get a guy like that, who is so fresh and can hit the ball anywhere at any given stage, you have to pick him.
“I am glad that they have picked Ravi Bopara again. They made a big mistake not picking him for the series against India.
“You need to pick players that make the bowlers think ‘oh no, if he gets in I don’t want to bowl’. That is how to play the game now.”
The latest edition of the World Cup is an Antipodean affair, with New Zealand and Australia co-hosting. The hard, bouncy pitches Down Under will play a key role, the conditions ensuring India will face a tough task to hold on to the crown they won on home soil four years ago.
The Black Caps have never triumphed at the World Cup, their best performances coming in six semi-final runs. They were defeated by South Africa in their most recent ODI series, but a side boasting Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson has been tipped to shine come February by Pietersen.
He said: “I reckon New Zealand have a great chance. They are a very, very good cricketing side at the moment. The conditions [in Australia] with bouncy wickets is my only issue [with India]. On a good, fast Australian wicket, India can be 90-7. I never write them off as they have superstar players and some of my good buddies are in the side, I’d like to see them do really well.
“But if I had to take a pick, I’d go for New Zealand as an outsider.”
Pietersen is widely considered one of England’s greatest batsmen, his feats including a second innings 158 to secure the 2005 Ashes and an indefatigable 186 in Mumbai two years ago helping England regain the momentum against India.
An intense circuit of interviews followed the publication of his book about his career, claims and counter-claims from former team-mates and leading cricket figures emerging as Pietersen dominated sports news across the globe. Speaking at a press conference to announce Al Nabooda Insurance Brokers as sponsors of his Kevin Pietersen Cricket Academy, KP said he was now relieved to end the episode.
He said: “It is all positive. All the nonsense is out of the way. It was an incredibly stressful few weeks going through that book stuff. It was a therapeutic process, but now I am like ‘done’. To use the pun, it is a chapter closed and a new start.”
Pietersen has Dubai on his radar now, his first Kevin Pietersen Cricket Academy opening in January and KP24 Foundation launching at a gala dinner this month. Pietersen also continues to be in high demand on the T20 circuit because of his power hitting, stints in the Big Bash with Melbourne Stars and Indian Premier League with Delhi Daredevils to come.
Pietersen has vowed to play a hands-on role at his academies, but feels little desire to use this experience as a stepping stone to a dedicated senior coaching position.
He said: “I do not think I could fulfil a full role as an international coach because I do not have the time for it. Travelling again with an international side, I have no interest. I wouldn’t mind dedicating 30 to 40 days on a consultancy basis helping batsmen in a certain team or country. I can not be doing 250 or 260 nights in a row again, it will not happen.”
