Michael Vaughan: No chance for Kevin Pietersen, team management needs to improve
Slamming England current situation as a ‘sopa opera’ after an early exit from the World Cup, former skipper Michael Vaughan remarks that the team is so deep in dire straits that an entire movie could be made explaining the pathetic performance of the British team.
Following a 15 run defeat against the relatively lower rated Bangladesh which knocked them out of the World Cup, the three lions seem to be surrounded in a web of criticism from fans and media alike. There is speculation that the coach Peter Moores should be sacked. The selectors have come under the hammer for dropping the ex captain Alastair Cook from the squad. The Kevin Pietersen scenario too is not doing the English Cricket Board any good as his future with the national side remains uncertain.
Not a chance for Kevin Pietersen to play for England again
The ashes winning Captain Vaughan made clear that Kevin Pietersen has absolutely no chance to adorn England color again. As he was quoted saying
"I don't think Pietersen has a cat in hell's chance of playing for England under the current management. James Whitaker is right to say he is not in his plans at the minute, but what if England play poorly and continue to play in the fashion they have throughout the winter? They haven't played good cricket - there has been poor selections and poor strategies - and that is down to the management and the coach”
Forthcoming tour of West Indies holds the key
As England tour West Indies, Vaughan believes that the tour is an important building block in reshaping the character of the team.
"If there had been a six-to-eight-week break, there might have been a chance to change some things, but because it is a quick turnaround, they can go with the same management and see how they perform in the West Indies, but it is a banana skin. Playing away from home is difficult in Test match cricket. If England play poorly, who is to say in May that the new chairman comes in and there might be a change in management” added Michael Vaughan.
England management needs to improve
While the decision to drop Alastair Cook might not have come as a surprise, the former Yorkshire has labeled the decision as “Staggering”. He believes that the decision to sack Cook of the captaincy just two months before World Cup has back fired. Though Cook’s downfall as the skipper was inevitable, it could have been dealt in a better way
"We knew Alastair Cook was losing the job as one-day captain before Alastair Cook did. How does that happen? It is terrible management. There are leaks coming left, right and centre from the England and Wales Cricket Board. That has to stop."