Eoin Morgan has responded after Kevin Pietersen accused the England captain of being ‘scared’ and ‘weak’ during the World Cup defeat to Australia.
Morgan could only make four runs at Lord’s on Tuesday as his side succumbed to a 64-run defeat to rivals Australia.
England’s skipper produced a record-breaking century in last week’s win over Afghanistan but failed against Australia, top-edging fast bowler Mitchell Starc to deep fine leg early into his innings.
Pietersen felt Morgan looked ‘scared’ when facing Starc and said he had not seen a captain ‘show such a weakness for a while’.
‘Oh no, Eoin Morgan looked scared! That is a horror sign,’ Pietersen tweeted, before adding: ‘The England captain stepping to square leg when Starc made me think England could have a problem.
‘I hope not, but I’ve not seen a captain show such a weakness for a while.’
When Pietersen’s comments were read back to Morgan following England’s defeat to Australia, he said: ‘Really? Excellent.’
Asked whether he agreed with Pietersen, Morgan responded: ‘No, no. It didn’t feel like that at all.’
The England captain stepping to square leg when Starc bowled his first delivery to him made me think England could have a little problem over the next week or so.
I hope not, but I’ve not seen a captain show such a weakness for a while…— Kevin Pietersen? (@KP24) June 25, 2019
Morgan’s side were bowled out for 221 on Tuesday, with only Ben Stokes (89) offering any form of resistance as Jason Behrendoorff claimed a five-wicket haul and Mitchell Starc took four wickets.
That was after Australia had posted 285-7, with captain Aaron Finch scoring a 115-ball century and combining with David Warner (53) to put on 123 for the first wicket.
England now need to secure at least one victory in their two remaining group matches – against India and New Zealand – to secure a semi-final place.
Defending champions Australia, meanwhile, have become the first team to book their place in the knockout stages. They could be joined by New Zealand on Wednesday if the unbeaten Kiwis beat Pakistan.
