No change, no World Cup chance, insists Pietersen

Birmingham: England exile Kevin Pietersen said changes had to be made to the one-day side if they were to be competitive at next year’s World Cup. Pietersen took to Twitter after England’s humiliating nine-wicket defeat, with nearly 20 overs to spare, by India in the fourth one-day international at Edgbaston on Tuesday gave the world champions an unassailable 3-0 lead with one to play.

England coach Peter Moores has labelled the tem as “unfancied” to triumph in Australia and New Zealand while skipper Alastair Cook said the notion of the team lifting the trophy for the first time in the tournament’s 40-year history was “far-fetched”.

Although Pietersen did not indicate who should be dropped, he said a shake-up was required before, rather than after, the World Cup.

“So let’s pick the same team for SL and for the tri-series IN AUS & WC in Aus and lose,” Pietersen tweeted.

“Then change after that! I cannot believe it!,” he added.South Africa-born batsman Pietersen, England’s all-time leading run-scorer across all formats, was sent into international exile in February following England’s return home from a 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia.

At the time, the England and Wales Cricket Board cited the need to support Alastair Cook’s captaincy as a reason for ditching former skipper Pietersen.