Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has labelled the Proteas team that sunk to a 3-1 Test series defeat earlier this month as ‘probably the worst ever’.
Pietersen has been a big advocate of the appointment of head coach Mark Boucher and former captain Graeme Smith’s tenure as interim director of cricket, but isn’t convinced about the composition of the XI.
‘This is probably the worst team that South Africa have ever put out in Test match cricket,’ Pietersen wrote in a Betway Insider column.
‘They have got their management sorted, but I’m very concerned about their depth of players. I’m concerned that the wrong players are being picked.
He reiterated recent suggestions that Cricket South Africa approaches the England and Wales Cricket Board to allow cricketers bound to Kolpak contracts to play for the Proteas.
Currently, international cricketers who have signed Kolpak contracts in the United Kingdom are not allowed to compete in Test, ODI or T20I competition.
‘I’m gravely concerned about the number of South Africans that play in England on Kolpak deals.
‘I tweeted this week that if Graeme does one thing, it must be to engage with the ECB about the possibility of South Africans playing in England, earning the money they need to, but also being available for internationals.’
South Africa have a long line of Kolpak cricketers, including fast bowlers Duanne Olivier and Kyle Abbott, spinner Simon Harmer, batsmen Rilee Rossouw and Colin Ingram, wicketkeeper Dane Vilas and more.
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