Pietersen slams schedule

Kevin Pietersen has today added his name to the growing dissent regarding the packed international scheduling of cricket matches.

The advent of Twenty20s being established in international cricket including a World Cup in South Africa later this year, together with the ever increasing additional ODI fixtures, may reduce player’s careers according to the star English batsman.

“There are loads and loads of demands on your time now,” he said ahead of the fourth Test against the West Indies starting today.

“The world game is becoming like county cricket, which is hard but it’s what we’ve wanted to do since we were kids so we’ve just got to get on and do it.”

“There is a lot of cricket being played these days and time will tell how fatherhood changes my attitude.

“I don’t like spending time away from my family, I don’t like it at all, especially since I met Jessica. All these future tours that just get chucked in here and there, they don’t make me happy.

“There are so many exciting things to look forward to in life other than cricket and I’ve changed a heck of a lot both as a person and a player,” he also told Wisden recently.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting also voiced his concern over the growing Twenty20 format, warning of an international cricket overkill. However he did admit there were positives to be gained from the format in the long-term.

“I’ve never been a big fan of Twenty20 cricket, but I gather that there’s a lot of interest and money in this version of the game and we need money for the growth and development of the game,” Ponting said.

“That said, the international calendar is packed these days and on top of that Twenty20 cricket won’t do much for the players.”