Ashes 2021-22: Kevin Pietersen urges fans to 'go easy' on England after defeat in second Test

Despite showing some resistance on the fifth day of the second Ashes Test match on Monday, England succumbed to yet another defeat. After beating them by 275 runs, Australia now leads the series by 2-0.

While the poms have had a mediocre record in Australia for almost a decade, their current batting lineup isn’t really inspiring to say the least. Barring their captain Joe Root and number-three batter Dawid Malan, none of their batters have stood up, and taken responsibility. Yet, former English cricketer Kevin Pietersen has urged the fans to go easy on them.

After the hosts beat the visitors in the Pink-Ball Test, the former batter took to Twitter to request people to not be too harsh on the Root-led side. He even mentioned the fact that an Ashes tour is difficult. However, the former English skipper did acknowledge the fact that the batters of England haven’t been too good.

England’s batting is horrendous, I know- Kevin Pietersen

“PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE just give these England cricketers a bit of slack. An #Ashes tour is incredibly tough & these are not normal times right now. Their batting is horrendous, I know, but go easy please! 🙏🏽” read Pietersen’s tweet.

It is to be noted that the visitors are yet to score in access of 300 in an innings, as their highest score in the series so far has been 297, which came in the fourth innings of the first Test. Moreover, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that they are yet to fire collectively as a team. Another worrying factor is their inability to dismiss the hosts, and pick 20 wickets in a match.

The Englishmen bowlers were able to dismiss the opposition just once, and that being in the first innings of the first Test, where the hosts were dismissed for 425. Hence, It is safe to say that they have been totally outplayed in all departments as of now.  Thus, it will take monumental efforts for the Englishmen to make a comeback and win the remaining three Tests. If that does happen, then it would be the first time since 2011 that England go on to beat Australia in Australia.