Pietersen shocked by Stokes WC omission
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has expressed his shock that allrounder Ben Stokes was not picked in England's final 15-man squad for the World Cup.
Pietersen was speaking after he saw Stokes smash 77 runs in just 37 balls for the Melbourne Renegades against the Hobart Hurricanes in the Australian T20 Big Bash League.
Stokes was in England's 30-man preliminary World Cup squad, but did not make a big enough impression on the recently completed ODI series tour of Sri Lanka.
Pietersen, who also plays in the BBL for the Melbourne Stars, said that Stokes made a big impact on the team when he came in during the disastrous Ashes tour in 2013/2014, which England lost 5-0.
KP said: "I saw him bat for like 10 minutes (against the Hurricanes) and he played some beautiful cricket shots. I said at the start of his career, I said this guy's a little star in the making.
"If he had been handled the right way and if he had been given the opportunities probably like he should have been, he probably definitely would have been in the England squad.
"I'm dumbfounded he's not in the World Cup squad."
Latest
-
NewsGeorge Scrimshaw holds final-over nerves to guide Derbyshire past Lancashire
Scrimshaw successfully defended the 10 runs in the final over.
-
EnglandJonny Bairstow and England looking to ‘take the game forward’
Bairstow hit a run-a-ball hundred for the second Test in succession as England fought back spectacularly against New Zealand.
-
EnglandJonny Bairstow century leads thrilling England fightback at Headingley
The Yorkshireman made 130 not out and put on 209 with debutant Jamie Overton to rescue his side from 55 for six against New Zealand.
-
EnglandEngland top order left in tatters as New Zealand gain upper hand at Headingley
The hosts were 93 for six in reply to New Zealand’s 329 all out.
-
New ZealandDaryl Mitchell breaks record with another century against England
Mitchell broke Martin Donnelly’s New Zealand tally of 492 runs in a series in England, set back in 1949.
-
EnglandSuperb James Vince ton leads Hampshire to shock win over Somerset
Sussex’s five-match losing streak came to an end with a 17-run win over Surrey.
-
EnglandAdil Rashid to miss England’s India white-ball series to make Mecca pilgrimage
Rashid has found it difficult to make the pilgrimage due to timings and commitments.
-
EnglandJack Leach pleased with good luck but admits freak dismissal no collector’s item
New Zealand closed the opening day of the final Test against England on 225 for five after Henry Nicholls was dismissed in bizarre fashion.
-
EnglandStuart Broad stars on day one for England but error of judgement proves costly
Broad kept a week of celebrations going strong by striking before a run had been added and followed with the key scalp of Kane Williamson.
-
EnglandMatthew Mott expects England whitewash to ‘light fire’ under captain Eoin Morgan
Mott made an ideal start in his new role with a 3-0 one-day clean sweep of the Netherlands.