Ashes reaction: Kevin Pietersen backs Joe Root and coach Chris Silverwood

The Ashes
Kevin Pietersen

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has backed current captain Joe Root and coach Chris Silverwood to remain in charge of the team.

According to the batting legend, there are currently no better candidates within the England set-up who could step in and improve the side.

Root and Silverwood have come under scrutiny after Australia retained the Ashes with a commanding 4-0 series win on Sunday.

In fact, it could have been 5-0 had England’s last pair not hang on on the final day of the fourth Test to make sure they avoided a whitewash.

“They’re saying, SACK THE COACH! SACK THE CAPTAIN! Who else is going to coach or captain this England Test team any better? If you name me some world class players to replace the current underperforming ones, I’ll agree. But, there isn’t! wrote Pietersen on Twitter.

Irrespective of the crushing defeat Down Under, Root is England’s most successful captain in Test cricket, leading the side to 27 wins in 61 matches.

His predecessor Sir Alastair Cook is in second place, with 24 victories from 59 games.

England’s build-up to the Ashes series in Australia did not go particularly well, as they lost a four-match Test series in India last year.

This was followed by a disappointing defeat at home to New Zealand in the two-match series in the lead-up to the World Test Championship final.

Thereafter, in August, India toured England for another Test series, which Virat Kohli’s side were leading 2-1 when the series was postponed following a spate of positive coronavirus test in the visitors’ camp.

England last won the Ashes in 2015.

‘Get away from cricket’

Earlier, ‘KP’, as Pietersen has been widely referred to, also suggested the England batsmen would be better off skipping training altogether than continuing in their current ways.

His criticism of the system that produced the current crop of players continued, however.

“And still NOT blaming the players. It’s the system,” he added.

“And, I’ve been on two 5-0 defeats and they’re horrendous for all!

“My advice – DO NOT GO TO THE NETS! Get away from cricket & turn up the day of the next game.”

Kevin Pietersen

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