Latest news with #Pietersen
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Karun Nair 'spent hours' preparing for England series during IPL 2025 as DC coach makes revelation after Oval rescue act
Karun Nair stood firm on a spicy Oval surface to script a gritty, potentially career-saving half-century on the opening day of the fifth and final Test against England. Returning to the Indian XI after being left out for the fourth Test, Nair weathered the seaming conditions and a mid-innings collapse to remain unbeaten on 52 at stumps, guiding India to 204/6 on a rain-hit Day 1. London: India's Karun Nair plays a shot during the first day of the fifth Test cricket match between India and England, at The Oval(PTI) As praise poured in from various quarters, former England skipper and Delhi Capitals batting coach Kevin Pietersen acknowledged Nair; the duo worked together during the IPL earlier this year. Pietersen revealed Nair spent considerable time discussing batting in English conditions with him as part of preparations for the Test series during IPL 2025. 'So happy for Karun and how he's stabilised India's batting yesterday. He's a tremendously hard worker on his game and we spent many hours talking about batting in England during the IPL. I'm hoping he gets a wonderful 100 today!' Pietersen posted on X. The association between the two began earlier this year when Delhi Capitals bought Nair ahead of the 2025 IPL season before Pietersen came on board as the franchise's batting coach. Their conversations, it appears, have paid off, with Nair's calm, collected approach at The Oval showcasing a temperament England themselves once feared. Nair had a frustrating start to the series on his return to Test cricket after 8 years, with the batter failing to convert strong starts on almost all occasions. On Thursday, however, the batter soaked in pressure to score his first fifty-plus score of the series; he was a composed presence against the movement off the pitch and offered a much-needed backbone to India's innings alongside Washington Sundar, who remained unbeaten on 19. India's frustrating outing Earlier in the day, India had struggled on the greenest pitch of the series, losing both openers cheaply. Shubman Gill looked fluent until a mix-up led to a self-inflicted run-out. Gill, however, broke Sunil Gavaskar's long-standing record for most runs by an Indian captain in a Test series with his 733-run tally. He further has a chance to surpass Gavaskar's Indian record for most runs in a single Test series (774), with an innings remaining in the game. Sai Sudharsan (38) showed promise before falling late in the day, while Ravindra Jadeja perished to Josh Tongue's seam movement. Chris Woakes, who removed KL Rahul earlier, suffered a shoulder injury late in the day and is doubtful for the remainder of the Test.
IOL News
20 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Sharks load team with Junior Springboks to try and kickstart Currie Cup campaign against Bulls
Junior Springbok flyhalf Vusi Moyo has been drafted into the Sharks team for their Currie Cup match against the Bulls. Image: Maurilio Boldrini / World Rugby Goal-kicking ace Vusi Moyo is among six Junior Springboks included in the Sharks XV squad for their Currie Cup visit to the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday. Moyo, Jaco Williams, Albie Bester, Ceano Everson, Simphiwe Ngobese, and Matt Romao have injected U20 world championship success into the Sharks side that endured a baptism of fire last week at Ellis Park, where they copped 40 points from the Lions. Coach JP Pietersen says the U20 stars, fresh from their triumph in Italy, have picked up the team's intensity in training this week. 'The time is ripe for the youngsters to make the step up into Currie Cup rugby,' said Pietersen. 'Their recent achievements on the world stage will add firepower.' Williams, with his eye for the tryline and pace to match, has been named on the wing, replacing Khuthi Rasivhagam, who moves to the bench, while Ngobese covers prop and flank. Romao will provide back row cover on the bench. Moyo, also on the bench, starred for the Junior Boks with his place-kicking, astute distribution, and physicality. He amassed 63 points across the tournament and was the showpiece's top scorer. Adding top-level experience amongst the forwards are lock Corne Rahl and flanker Tino Mavesere. They replace Gideon Koegelenberg and Mawande Mdanda, respectively. From an experienced point of view, tighthead prop Lee-Marvin Mazibuko is a welcome addition to the side. The 28-year-old former Stormer has returned to South Africa after a season with Racing 92 in France. He starts in Mawande Mdanda's place. Pietersen said that his team's loss to the Lions should be seen in perspective. 'We have a different squad than last year in that we don't have older guys. For example, last week, the player cap total was just over 100 in the whole group of 23. 'It is a tough path to follow, but do we have fight in the group? Yes, we have, and we also have talented players. We need time. All we can do is take it day by day. 'I can say that we have had better training sessions this week. The Baby Boks have slotted in nicely and lifted the intensity. They know what to do. It is exciting to have them.' Former Springbok Pietersen said his job as Currie Cup coach is to develop talent for the United Rugby Championship. 'Our main objective is to blood youngsters. We want to develop players who can be good enough to step up to the URC. 'If we can win the Currie Cup, that would be great, but our main objective is to bring through talent. 'If you look at the Bulls and the Lions, they have a lot of players who played in the URC, players who understand the game. Last week we had eight debutants, and this week the same number. 'Our focus is on us and how we can stay in our system and attack for as long as possible.' Sharks XV — 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Phiko Sobahle, 13 Litelihle Bester, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Bradley Davids (VC), 8 Nick Hatton (c), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Bryce Calvert, 1 Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Simphiwe Ngobese, 18 Dian Heunis, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Matt Ramao, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Vusi Moyo, 23 Albie Bester.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Kevin Pietersen Stirs Fresh Debate On State Of Modern Bowlers: "I'm Still Waiting..."
Days after starting a debate about the calibre of bowlers being better 25 years ago, England ex-cricketer Kevin Pietersen has yet again stirred the pot. The England international, who played 104 Tests, 136 ODIs and 37 T20Is between 2005 and 2013, is known for his flamboyant views on social media, akin to his batting style. "I see 4.6M people viewed my tweet about bowling being way better 25 years ago," wrote Pietersen on X (formerly Twitter), adding: "I gave a list of 22 bowlers from back then. I'm still waiting for someone to name me 10 bowlers who are bowling at present who'd make that list please?" Pietersen's fresh statement comes after he claimed there was a noticeable decline in the standard of quality bowling across Test-playing nations. "Don't shout at me but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago! Probably twice as hard back then!" Pietersen said. See the post here: I see 4.6M people viewed my tweet about bowling being way better 25 years ago. I gave a list of 22 bowlers from back then. I'm still waiting for someone to name me 10 bowlers who are bowling at present who'd make that list please? — Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 28, 2025 Pietersen named a host of bowlers from the past eras and challenged his readers to name 10 contemporary bowlers who can be compared with them. "Waqar, Shoaib, Akram, Mushtaq, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Gough, McGrath, Lee, Warne, Gillespie, Bond, Vettori, Cairns, Vaas, Murali, Curtley, Courtney and the list could go on and on..." "I've named 22 above. Please name me 10 modern day bowlers that can compare to the names above?," he added. His statement came in the backdrop of his countryman, Joe Root, going past Australian great, Ricky Ponting, to climb to second place in the all-time list of Test run scorers. Don't shout at me but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago! Probably twice as hard back then! Waqar, Shoaib, Akram, Mushtaq, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Gough, McGrath, Lee, Warne, Gillespie, Bond, Vettori, Cairns, Vaas, Murali,… — Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 26, 2025 'Simple fact is...' As Pietersen's fresh post went viral, a section of social media users disagreed with his assessment, while others questioned if the comparison was fair in the first place. "They were bowling on more bowler-friendly pitches as well, in general. Probably the biggest things cricket is missing right now is a strong West Indies, a few genuine quicks, and 1-2 spinners who really rip it," said one user while another added: "KP were they really better or did the uncovered pitches provide more assistance." A third commented: "Simple fact is there isn't. Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, Bumrah, Rabada, are the only ones I can think of in modern-day cricket."
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago': Kevin Pietersen
Former England player Kevin Pietersen said that batting in the modern era has become pretty easy compared to what it was 20-25 years ago. He also suggested there has been a decline in top bowlers in the sport taking the names of starts from yesteryears like Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath among others to compare them to today's bowlers. 'Don't shout at me but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago! Probably twice as hard back then! 'Waqar, Shoaib, Akram, Mushtaq, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Gough, McGrath, Lee, Warne, Gillespie, Bond, Vettori, Cairns, Vaas, Murali, Curtley, Courtney and the list could go on and on… I've named 22 above. Please name me 10 modern day bowlers that can compare to the names above?,' Pietersen wrote on X on Saturday. Pietersen, who played 104 Tests, 136 ODIs and 37 T20Is for England between 2005 and 2013, has been as flamboyant with his views as he was in the middle with the bat. Don't shout at me but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago! Probably twice as hard back then! Waqar, Shoaib, Akram, Mushtaq, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Gough, McGrath, Lee, Warne, Gillespie, Bond, Vettori, Cairns, Vaas, Murali,… — Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 26, 2025 The former right-handed batter, who made 8,181 runs at 47.28 with 23 tons and 35 fifties in Test cricket, said batting was 'twice as hard back then'. This came on a day when Pietersen's country mates Ben Stokes and Joe Root's tons guided England to an imposing 669 in their first innings. Stokes (141 from 198 balls) put to rest his two-year long drought to make his 14th Test hundred as England marched on to a 600-plus total. Root, meanwhile, overtook Australia great Ricky Ponting to climb to second place in the all-time list of Test run scorers. He capitalised on a wayward Indian bowling attack to smash 150 on Day Three of the Manchester Test, is now behind only Sachin Tendulkar's towering mark of 15,921 runs. Chasing, India were reeling on 1 for two in their second innings at lunch on Day 4 after conceding a massive 311-run lead. Pacer Chris Woakes dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and B Sai Sudharsan in successive balls in the first over itself, as the visitors now trail by 310 runs. (With agency inputs)
NDTV
6 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
As Joe Root Closes In On Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen's Dig At Modern Bowlers: "Name Me 10..."
England great Kevin Pietersen has stirred a fresh debate by claiming that batting in the current era is "way easier" than it was 20-25 years ago, suggesting a decline in the quality of bowling across Test-playing nations. Pietersen's comments on his social media handle came a day after fellow England batter Joe Root overtook Australia great Ricky Ponting to climb to second place in the all-time list of Test run scorers. "Don't shout at me but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago! Probably twice as hard back then!," Pietersen wrote on X on Saturday. Don't shout at me but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago! Probably twice as hard back then! Waqar, Shoaib, Akram, Mushtaq, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Gough, McGrath, Lee, Warne, Gillespie, Bond, Vettori, Cairns, Vaas, Murali,… — Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 26, 2025 Pietersen, who played 104 Tests, 136 ODIs and 37 T20Is for England between 2005 and 2013, has been as flamboyant with his views as he was in the middle with the bat. The former right-handed batter, who made 8,181 runs at 47.28 with 23 tons and 35 fifties in Test cricket, said batting was "twice as hard back then". Pietersen named a host of bowlers from the past eras and challenged his readers to name 10 contemporary bowlers who can be compared with them. "Waqar, Shoaib, Akram, Mushtaq, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Gough, McGrath, Lee, Warne, Gillespie, Bond, Vettori, Cairns, Vaas, Murali, Curtley, Courtney and the list could go on and on..." "I've named 22 above. Please name me 10 modern day bowlers that can compare to the names above?," he added. Root scored 150 off 248 balls on Day 3 of the fourth Test against India. With this knock, Root surpassed Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket. Talking about the fourth Test between India and England, riding on a hundred by skipper Ben Stokes, the visitors posted an imposing 669 in their first innings to take a massive 311-run lead on Day 4. Stokes (141, 198 balls) put to rest his two-year long drought to make his 14th Test hundred as England marched on to a 600-plus total. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah finally conceded 100 runs or more in an innings for the first time in his 48th Test. For India, Ravindra Jadeja took four wickets. With the Old Trafford pitch showing increasing signs of variable bounce, Indian batters' task is cut out in the second innings. (With PTI Inputs)
