Former Australian skipper-turned commentator Ricky Ponting took a hilarious jibe at former England batter Kevin Pietersen‘s tweet on Nathan Lyon’s performances on Day 3 of the Adelaide Test. On Saturday, KP took to his social media where he urged England batsman to ‘smack’ Lyon on ‘world cricket’s flattest road’. Pietersen wrote:
“Can someone please smack Lyon? FFS! Off-spinner with zero variations and bowling on world cricket’s flattest road!”
Here, check out the Tweet:
Can SOMEONE please smack Lyon?!?!! FFS!
Off spinner with zero variations and bowling on world crickets flattest road!!!! #Ashes— Kevin Pietersen? (@KP24) December 18, 2021
KP’s Tweet went viral on social media in no time and was flooded with reactions from the fans to it. The tweet didn’t go down well with many Australian fans, including former Australian cricketer and commentator Ricky Ponting, who slammed KP for his Tweet.
While commentating on Channel 7, Ricky Ponting analyzed the off-spinner’s Test numbers and pointed to KP’s record against Lyon. He said:
“400 Test wickets, Kev. Lyon to Pietersen. Lyon got him four times for 163 runs and at the Adelaide Oval, the world‘s flattest cricket wicket, Kevin Pietersen, none for 14 off 23 balls with 15 dots and only one boundary. Come on, Kev.”
For the unversed, KP was dismissed 4 times by Lyon during his Test career. Recently, he claimed his 400th Test wicket at the Gabba last week to become the first Aussie off-spinner and was only the third bowler from his country to scale Mount. 400.
On Saturday, during England’s first innings, Lyon claimed three wickets. He picked the crucial wickets of Ollie Pope, Chris Woakes, and Ollie Robinson and returned with the figures of 3/58 in 28 overs. After his brilliant performance with the ball, Ponting once again took a jibe at KP. He said:
“I wonder if Kev’s still watching. The GOAT’s just taken another one. This is high-class bowling, pushed him back. They left the field open on the off-side, inside edge back on the stumps. This is off-spin of the highest class.”
After receiving backlash on social media, Pietersen took to Twitter again and reacted to the same. In his Tweet, he slammed the Australians for attacking him on social media. He said:
”It’s quite bizarre how many Australians responded so negatively to my tweet about Lyon. The Aussie way would be to attack and NOT play him like these English batters. Because he’s got 400 wickets, you’re not allowed to attack him?! Strange!”
Here, check out the Tweet:
It’s quite bizarre how many Australians responded so negatively to my tweet about Lyon.
The Aussie way would be to attack and NOT play him like these English batters.
Because he’s got 400 wickets you’re not allowed to attack him?!Strange!
— Kevin Pietersen? (@KP24) December 18, 2021
Meanwhile, the Australian side has put themselves in the driving seat as they took a 2-0 lead in the ongoing series.
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