Former England player Kevin Pietersen believes the hosts should not give bold statements to the media after their defeat in the second Ashes 2023 Test at Lord’s. However, Australia won the second Test by 43 runs and they have taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match series as well. Pietersen opined on how some of the England players have given statements in the media and how those have severely backfired as well.

In his article for Betway Insider, Kevin Pietersen added: “If you’re going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk, and this England cricket team isn’t walking the walk. They’re acting like they’re the greatest team around, but they’re currently on course to be the first England team to lose at home to Australia since 2001.”

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He continued: “After the first Test match, Ollie Robinson said that they felt like they won the game, Jimmy Anderson was complaining that the wicket was like kryptonite, and then you’ve got Zak Crawley saying they’re going to win the next one by 150 runs. Leading into Headingley, all of this needs to stop. The pressure that they’re putting themselves under by speaking that way and using that language is unnecessary. It’s not helping in any way, shape, or form.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Pietersen also shared how Australia dominated the proceedings at Lord’s once they were given the chance to take the first-innings lead as well. England will need some heroic efforts to turn the table.

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“When they get their foot on the throat, they will absolutely push and push and push to destroy you. That’s how they play this sport. They have that mongrel in them. I don’t see the mongrel in the England cricket team. There’s so much relaxed talk. It’s like, ‘Hey, this is the coolest environment, we’re having the best time ever.’ Unfortunately, all that matters is winning,” he concluded.