Pietersen enjoying lack of ‘jealousy’ at Stars

Australia

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen is having a whale of a time in the Big Bash League for the Melbourne Stars, and says he is enjoying being in a team where no-one is jealous of his success.

Pietersen has always maintained that many of his problems with England team-mates stemmed from their 'jealousy' over his IPL contract, and he reiterated that on Sunday ahead of the Melbourne derby.

He said that playing with the likes of Glenn Maxwell made for a fun environment, as those players have also experienced the IPL. He said guys like Alex Hales and Luke Wright, who missed out at auction, would have found that 'demoralising'.

Pietersen said ahead of Saturday's game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground: "There's no jealousy here. That's the fact. None of these guys are jealous of anything.

"We're just good guys, hanging out and playing cricket. All these guys play in franchises around the world, they've all benefited from the IPL.

"The England lads: too much jealousy. I was the only one profiting – very, very well – out of India, and in an auction, if you don't get picked up, it's pretty demoralising."

Pietersen was instrumental in his side's win on the day, as the green-clad side won off the final ball. Pietersen made 49, and was with Maxwell for much of the Aussie's half century during the chase.

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