The Ashes 2017/18: When Kevin Pietersen Called Joe Root 'Captain Fantastic'

With the rain threatening to wash out the final day of the ongoing third Ashes Test in Perth, former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has taken a dig at his former teammate and current skipper Joe Root.

England, who are trailing the series 2-0, are in danger of losing the urn after finishing the fourth day’s proceedings at the WACA on 132 for four, trailing Australia’s fourth innings total by 127 runs. But Australia’s hopes of regaining the urn might get washed away at the moment, as the final day of the game began in controversy with a wet pitch delaying the start of play.

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Perth was lashed with heavy rain throughout the night, and as a result, the pitch was affected too which led to a delayed start on day five. Root and head coach Trevor Bayliss held a lengthy discussion with the umpires before play and seemed unhappy with the state of the pitch.

But while the groundsmen are breaking their back to get the ground ready and the England team-management not looking keen on playing in the wet conditions, Pietersen took a sly dig at Root. The former England skipper took to Twitter to post a morphed image of Joe Root, holding a water spray gun in his hand with the caption:

“Captain fantastic.”

Captain Fantastic! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/rV3n55P7Y5

— Kevin Pietersen? (@KP24) December 18, 2017

Meanwhile, umpire Marais Erasmus said a leakage led to the poor condition of the pitch.

“There was a bit of leakage overnight, so they’re doing a bit of a drying job with the blowers,” Erasmus told BT Sport.

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On the other hand, Bayliss said England would take the decision only after consulting the umpire.

“Whatever the umpires say we’ll do,” he told Channel Nine. “At the moment there’s a few soft spots in the wicket. We’re more than prepared to come out and play if we can get it as close as we can to yesterday.

“Needs a bit more wind and some sun, I’d say,” he added. “It’s unfortunate, really. It was going to be a good day of cricket, and it still may be.

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