England’s former swashbuckling batsman Kevin Pietersen feels the English team needs a left-arm spin all-rounder like Ravindra Jadeja.
Pietersen stated that if you are a kid, county cricketer or emerging player, follow the footsteps of Ravindra Jadeja.
Jadeja has been a consistent performer for the Indian team in the last decade, especially in the Test format. Furthermore, the Indian all-rounder has improved his batting, which has helped become an integral part of all the three formats for the team.
Jadeja is a gun fielder and adds value to the team with his catches and amazing direct hits. There is no doubt that Jadeja is one of the best all-rounders in the game and he always plays a key role in the success of the team.
“It frustrates me that there still isn’t an international-standard English left-arm spin bowler who bats. Look at what Ravindra Jadeja has done for India in Test match cricket, one-day cricket, and T20 cricket,” Pietersen wrote in his blog for Betway Insider.
“It’s the one position that the ECB must be prioritising. They need to invest in somebody because someone of that ilk is priceless across all three formats,” the former England captain added.
“If you’re a kid, an emerging player, or a county cricketer, copy Jadeja. Copy what Jadeja does because he’s an absolute superstar. You’ll have a long career as a Test match cricketer for England.
Pietersen added that neither Jack Leach nor Dom Bess is a Test match spinner and England needs to invest in the same. The former batsman stated that Leach hasn’t been able to deliver the goods for England.
“Leach is not a Test match spinner and Bess is not a Test match spinner. I wrote nearly two years ago that I hope Leach doesn’t get remembered for Specsavers adverts because it’s about winning Test matches,” Pietersen pointed out.
“Unfortunately, I was right, because he’s not good enough. He hasn’t bowled any teams out, he hasn’t bowled England to glory in Tests like Panesar and Swann used to do.”
England is currently playing the first Test match against New Zealand at Lord’s.
