‘Batting today is ‘way easier’ than 20-25 years ago’: Kevin Pietersen after Joe Root’s record-breaking knock vs India | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: England batting legend Kevin Pietersen has ignited fresh debate in cricketing circles by claiming that batting today is significantly easier than it was two to three decades ago. According to Pietersen, a noticeable dip in the quality of bowling across Test-playing nations has made life simpler for modern-day batters.His remarks came just a day after Joe Root surpassed Australia’s Ricky Ponting to move into second place on the all-time list of Test run scorers, behind only Sachin Tendulkar. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Pietersen wrote:
“Don’t shout at me but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago! Probably twice as hard back then!”Known for his bold personality both on and off the field, Pietersen—who played 104 Tests for England between 2005 and 2013 and scored 8,181 runs at an average of 47.28—has never shied away from expressing strong views. This time, he doubled down on the argument by pointing to a star-studded list of bowlers from the past, arguing that the modern game lacks comparable threats.“Waqar, Shoaib, Akram, Mushtaq, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Gough, McGrath, Lee, Warne, Gillespie, Bond, Vettori, Cairns, Vaas, Murali, Curtley, Courtney and the list could go on and on…” he wrote, before challenging his followers:“I’ve named 22 above. Please name me 10 modern day bowlers that can compare to the names above?”
Pietersen’s comments come at a time when batting records continue to tumble. Root’s unbeaten 150 against India on Day 3 of the fourth Test in Manchester has now taken his career tally to 11,736 Test runs—closing in on Tendulkar’s monumental 15,921.While many have applauded the consistency and flair of batters in the current era, Pietersen’s comments have reopened the discussion on how much the evolution of flat pitches, changed rules, and fading bowling firepower have contributed to inflated batting numbers.
