World Cup 2023: Shouldn’t be playing – Kevin Pietersen wants England to drop Dawid Malan for Harry Brook

Former swashbuckling England batter Kevin Pietersen wants team to replace Dawid Malan with Harry Brook for the rest of the World Cup matches. Malan has scored 236 runs in six matches at an average of 39.33 and a strike rate of 105.82 in the ongoing World Cup 2023.

However, apart from scoring 140 runs against Bangladesh, Malan hasn’t been consistent enough at the top of the order for Three Lions. Pietersen reckons England skipper Jos Buttler should bat at the top whereas Harry Brook should play in the middle order.

In fact, when Ben Stokes was not part of the team’s playing XI due to a hip niggle, Brook got his chance. Brook scored 128 runs in four matches at an average of 32 and a strike rate of 109.40 in the ongoing ODI showpiece. Furthermore, Buttler has failed to get going as he has scored 105 runs in six matches at an average of 17.50.

Pietersen wrote on the microblogging platform X: “When I was asked who I’d drop from England’s team when I said Brook should have been in, I said Malan. I stand by that even more now. Buttler should be up the top, Malan shouldn’t be playing and Brook has to start EVERY SINGLE GAME!”

Meanwhile, Brook was not initially part of England’s World Cup team but he was added in place of experienced opener Jason Roy at the 11th hour.

On the other hand, England has had a horrid run in the ongoing World Cup, managing a solitary win in six matches they have played so far. The defending champions lost their previous match against hosts India by 100 runs after they were skittled out for only 129 runs at Lucknow on Sunday.

England have failed to come up with a consistent batting performance and it has led to their downfall. The reigning champions are at the bottom of the points table and have a poor Net Run Rate of -1.652. Ergo, they are at the verge of elimination from the ODI showpiece.

England will next take on arch-rivals Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Saturday.