‘I’m sure it wasn’t best received’ - Steve Harmison reflects on Kevin Pietersen’s harsh comments on England’s Day 1 show at Lord's

After a thrilling encounter in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, both Australia and England once again locked horns in the second Test at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Coming in to bat first, the Aussies put in a fabulous performance with the bat on Day 1, as the English bowlers were left searching for answers. 

During the Tea break, former English cricketer Kevin Pietersen lambasted England for their performance on the opening day of the second Test. Pietersen opined that England's performance was just not good enough. His statement gained major traction across social media. However, former England pacer Steve Harmison disagreed.

Harmison opined that Pietersen’s comments would not be well received in mainstream media and that there is a time and place for everything. 

"I think this team has had one or two bad days in 13 months. I think that some of the things they were having a go at them for, being too matey, there’s a time and a place but they’re in the mainstream media," Harmison told talkSPORT.

"They’re there to give their opinion and I’m not going to knock Kevin for having his opinion. He’s always had it, he’s always been forceful with it, it wasn’t always warranted and it wasn’t always best received – I’m sure it wasn’t best received in the England dressing room this morning," he added.

A few of us could say to Kevin, in no uncertain terms, to shut up: Harmison

Furthermore, Harmison was of the opinion that had Pietersen scrutinized England after the end of the match when they would have been beaten, then he would have agreed with him. However, there are many days left to play, and there was no need for such harsh comments this early on.

"It certainly wasn’t in the England dressing room when we were in it, but a few of us could say to Kevin, in no uncertain terms, to shut up but he’s getting paid to give his opinion. At times there was a lot of frustration yesterday but the context of it, you’ve got to look at it in a five-day way," Harmison said

"If he’d said it on day five when England had been beat then I’d probably have agreed with him, but he says it on day one when there’s a lot of cricket to be played, the sun has got to come out and you’ve still got three innings to go," he added.