‘Needs to stop’: Pietersen rips cocky England

Divisive England great Kevin Pietersen has whacked his former team for not being able to back up their boasts in the Ashes series against Australia.

Pietersen, now working as a commentator, voiced his disgust in a column for a British betting agency after England slumped into a 2-0 hole against Australia at Lord’s.

“If you’re going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk, and this England cricket team isn’t walking the walk,” Pietersen wrote.

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“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.

“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.”

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“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,” Pietersen wrote.

“I said a lot of things in my career, and I put myself under a lot of pressure, but I was able to walk the walk. England are not walking the walk.”

Pietersen’s commentary has proven unpopular with both nations this series.

Former teammate Steve Harmison told him to “shut up” after his criticism of the bowlers while Australian spinner Nathan Lyon was upset with his strange musings on his decision to bat on a bad calf.

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