Sport : Cricket

KNIGHT: PIETERSEN DECISION IS RIGHT

11th June 2012, 08:49am

Bet with SkyBet  England v West Indies. Click here to bet.

Kevin Pietersen: Quit international limited-overs cricket

Kevin Pietersen: Quit international limited-overs cricket

Nick Knight insists England will be better off without Kevin Pietersen in ODI cricket.

Pietersen was fined by the England and Wales Cricket Board last month for questioning, via his Twitter feed, Knight's credentials as a Sky Test match commentator.

He subsequently stunned the cricket world by announcing his retirement from all limited-overs internationals.

Knight, himself a former England batsman and a notable success in the one-day international format, revisited previous critiques of Pietersen while broadcasting on the washed-out first day of the third Investec Test at Edgbaston.

"England's 50-over side will be slightly better for having Kevin Pietersen out, because it has not been his bag," he said.

"The recent two to three years have shown his returns have been well below the expectations for him. He has finished with two hundreds [against Pakistan in UAE], but generally he has been below par."

Pietersen scored more than 4,000 ODI runs at an average just above 41 - including a run of three hundreds in six matches at the start of his career, against his native South Africa, as well as those two match-winning centuries in his final two innings.

Knight added: "It is a brave thing to say because the obvious talent is there.

"I have looked at the statistics, and they do not add up - so you ask why and look deeper into it.

"I think he is right to say he has had enough and move on.

"That is why I think England are in a better position going forward, because they will have 11 players who are right behind one-day cricket."

There was no response to Knight's latest remarks from Pietersen on Twitter last night.

Bet with SkyBet  England v West Indies. Click here to bet.

Cricket Videos

    Cook wary of Amla danger

    Cook wary of Amla danger

    18-June-2013

    Alastair Cook pinpoints Hashim Amla as the wicket the England team will be targeting early on, but has concerns over spinner Graeme Swann's fitness.

    De Villiers: Steyn close

    De Villiers: Steyn close

    18-June-2013

    South Africa are hopeful Dale Steyn will be fit for South Africa's ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against England tomorrow and Captian AB De Villiers claims Steryn is close to a return.

    Moosajee uncertain over Steyn's fitness

    Moosajee uncertain over Steyn's fitness

    18-June-2013

    South Africa team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee says he is hopeful that Dale Steyn will be fit to face England but says there are young players who can step in if Steyn cannot play.

    Australia v Sri Lanka - Highlights

    Australia v Sri Lanka - Highlights

    17-June-2013

    Sri Lanka are through to the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy after defeating Australia by 20 runs in the final Group A fixture at the Oval.

    Sky Bet

    Facebook Favourites