Kevin Pietersen questions England's sense of direction over Test cricket

Kevin Pietersen has questioned whether England know where they are going saying their focus on oneday cricket risks alienating fans who care more about Test success The past two years have seen a vast improvement in Englands limitedovers form with a team that suffered an embarrassing firstround exit at the 2015 World Cup now top of the oneday international rankingsThe form of Eoin Morgans side has been a huge boost to the England and Wales Cricket Board ECB who have staked a lot including a contentious rejigging of the domestic season on England winning the World Cup for the first time when the 2019 edition takes place on home soilBut Englands whiteball rise has been accompanied by a dip in their Test results with Joe Roots men going down to a 40 Ashes defeat in Australia before a 10 series reverse in New Zealand England have prided themselves on being a tough Test side to beat in their own conditions but had to battle back to share a twomatch series against Pakistan 11 after a thumping ninewicket loss in the first Test at LordsAnd Pietersen said oneday success was being prioritised to the detriment of Englands Testmatch form I dont know which direction they want to go in former England batsman Pietersen who helped the side to a number of notable victories said today We won a T20 World Cup we won the Ashes home and away we beat India in India a few years ago added the 37yearold exEngland captain who scored over 8000 runs including 23 hundreds in 104 Tests at an average of 4728England havent won a 50over World Cup I know that was the message a few years ago to do that and you can see they are driving towards that World Cup in England next summer at the detriment of Test cricket And I think its sad and frustrating for us as players who have played over 100 Test matches Pietersen explained The public care a lot more about Test match cricket than they do about the shorter form of the gameThe big series will continue to exist the Ashes will be fine India v Pakistan Australia against South Africa England face Scotland in a oneday international in Edinburgh on Sunday before their World Cup buildup continues with a fivematch home ODI series against oldest rivals AustraliaThis trip sees Australia in action for the firsttime since their tour of South Africa when captain Steve Smith vicecaptain David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft were suspended for balltampering Australia were on the receiving end of some alcoholfuelled banter relating to the scandal during a 57run victory in their tour opener against Sussex at Hove on ThursdayBut as far as Pietersen is concerned there is one way the team can quieten their criticsThey have just got to win when you win the media go with you when they lose they hammer you he explained Australia are always the pantomime villain no doubt the English are going to go after them but thats the nature of the beast they always go after us when we go therePietersen may have represented England but the South Africaborn batsman will be playing against them for the Rest of the World in the Soccer Aid match at Old Trafford tomorrow A fan of passing football Pietersen nevertheless expects the Rest of the World to employ longball tactics given their captain and striker is Usain Bolt the multiple Olympic sprint gold medallistThe captain will be the goalscorer as long as he is quick off the mark like he always is said Pietersen He will be fed a lot of balls and if his left boot is firing he will score a lot of goals he added ahead of a charity match raising money for the United Nations Childrens FundAlso Read Kevin Pietersen Now Has All The Time To Save Rhinos From ExtinctionCatch up on all the latest T20 news and updates here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Except for the change in headline the story has been provided ASIS AS AVAILABLE without any verification or editing from our side Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever