Kevin Pietersen Sparks Debate After Joe Root Climbs to No. 2 on All-Time Test Runs List. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has stirred controversy by claiming that batting in Test cricket today is “way easier” than it was 20–25 years ago, hinting at a decline in bowling standards across the world.
His comments came just a day after fellow England batter Joe Root overtook Australian legend Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history.
Root now boasts 13,409* runs in 157* Test matches at an impressive average of 51.17, including 38 centuries and 66 fifties. His latest knock — a commanding 150 against India in Manchester — saw him leapfrog Rahul Dravid (13,288), Jacques Kallis (13,289), and Ricky Ponting (13,378) on the all-time list.
The only player now ahead of Root is Indian great Sachin Tendulkar, who remains the top run-getter with 15,921 runs in 200 Tests, including 51 centuries.
Kevin Pietersen: Batting Today Is Much Easier Compared to 20-25 Years Ago
Kevin Pietersen, who represented England in 104 Tests, 136 ODIs, and 37 T20Is between 2005 and 2013, has always been as candid with his opinions as he was brilliant with the bat. The former right-handed batsman amassed 8,181 Test runs at an average of 47.28, including 23 centuries and 35 fifties. He believes batting was “twice as hard” back in his playing days.
“Don’t hate me for saying this, but batting nowadays is way easier than it was 20 to 25 years ago! It was probably twice as difficult back then!” Pietersen wrote on X.
He then challenged fans to name ten current bowlers who could match the impact of legendary bowlers from earlier generations.
“Waqar, Shoaib, Akram, Mushtaq, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Gough, McGrath, Lee, Warne, Gillespie, Bond, Vettori, Cairns, Vaas, Murali, Curtly, Courtney — and that’s just a few of many. I’ve listed 22 here. Can you name 10 modern bowlers who compare to these greats?” he asked.