There Aren't Many Better Batters Than Him In England: Kevin Pietersen Wants IPL Star To Make Test Debut

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has asked England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to hand their Test cap to Liam Livingstone, who has been doing strikingly well for his Indian Premier League (IPL) side Punjab Kings this season.

As the England Test team makes the progress from Joe Root to Ben Stokes, who was named captain after Rob Key took over as managing director of men’s cricket, Kevin Pietersen has said that another player — ideally Harry Brook — ought to likewise be given Test debut in front of the bustling English summer, which starts with the home Test against New Zealand on June 2.

It’s About Time That England Backed The Talent Of Liam Livingstone: Kevin Pietersen

The 28-year-old Livingstone, who has played three ODIs and 17 T20Is up to this point, has been in grand form with the bat for Punjab Kings this season, where he has scored 293 runs at an average of 32.55 and a strike rate of 186.62. Then again, Brook has dazzled for Yorkshire in the County Championship.

The 23-year-old Brook has scored 512 runs at an average of 170.66 in five innings up to this point this season, including two hundreds and three half-hundreds of years, as per mirror.co.uk.

“Brook made his T20I debut for England in January and has built on a solid first-class season last year, which saw him average just under 40,” the report said.

In his latest blog, Kevin Pietersen wrote, “It’s about time that England backed the talent of Liam Livingstone. He is so free-spirited and I love the way that he is eager to entertain. He wants to give it a smack so he just does, no holding back. It’s awesome to watch. There aren’t many better batters than him in England, I tell you.”

I Think Rob Key Is On The Same Page As Me: Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen’s solicitation to ECB comes from the way that the main two players, new captain Ben Stokes and previous commander Joe Root, are ensured of a spot for the first Test this mid-year given they are fit.

“He’s (Livingstone) used to playing in this high-pressure environment and he’s loving it (at Punjab Kings). I would have him straight in the Test side at five or six. He can change the nature of a match very quickly by taking bowling attacks apart,” Kevin Pietersen wrote.

“Of course, he would fail at times, but when he goes well, you would have a guy who can destroy the opposition by scoring quick, entertaining runs. Another name I mentioned last summer, Harry Brook, has made a brilliant start to the summer in England.

“I think that Rob Key (England men’s cricket managing director) is on the same page as me in terms of picking players with great skill and a proper mentality, with a bit of oomph about them.

“Hopefully, that’s the kind of team England will pick for their first Test of the summer in a few weeks,” added Pietersen.

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