Bangalore: Star England batsman, Kevin Pietersen, who is currently playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, has said that his England teammates, especially the bowlers, have made a huge mistake by missing the IPL. Pietersen was also of the view that IPL is no longer just about money and it has transformed into a world class tournament which can help every player in improving his skills as a cricketer.

Besides Pietersen, the other England participants in the Indian Premier League this year include Paul Collingwood, Ravi Bopara, Michael Lumb, Owais Shah and Graham Napier. All-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas played at the start of the tournament but suffered an injury and flew back home. Two of England’s leading fast bowlers, Stuart Broad and James Anderson, had announced their unavailability in December to preserve themselves for future tournaments.

“As far as English cricket is concerned the good thing is that myself, Colly [Paul Collingwood] and Morgan are out here and can take the knowledge of playing in the IPL back to the England dressing room,” Pietersen said. “It is very disappointing for us that bowlers are not here. I spoke to Colly last week when we played Delhi and we agreed it would help for our bowlers to be out here learning about the game. The difficulty in England is that when the IPL came around it was all about money, money, money, but it has actually gone on to be a world-class tournament and we have missed the boat. The guys should put their names in the hat and find a way into this set-up because they can only get better by playing out here.”

England have performed poorly in the two editions of the World Twenty20, failing to reach the semi-finals in both, and Pietersen felt that playing in the IPL would help the players get better in this format of the game. “The more you play the better you become, so for us all to be available for the full six weeks of the IPL, like most of the other countries, would be really good,” Pietersen added.

The most impressive of all the English players this season has been Pietersen’s Hampshire teammate Michael Lumb. The left-hander, who plays for the Rajasthan Royals, is also part of the World Twenty20 squad. “I am not surprised he [Lumb] has done well,” Pietersen said. “He has been really good at this form of the game in the way he has excelled at getting good starts. The difference is, he now he finishes the job.”

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