Pietersen labels Adelaide groundsmen “pathetic

ADELAIDE - Key England batsman Kevin Pietersen’s tweet labeling Adelaide Oval groundsmen as pathetic has not gone down well with his team, or with Australian fans here.

Key batsmen Pietersen fumed when practice pitches were uncovered during a sudden downpour in Adelaide on Wednesday, forcing the tourists to train indoors.

He reportedly made his feelings known to curators at the ground before using Twitter to express his displeasure, reports the Herald Sun.

“What should a groundsmen make sure he does 2days out from a test match????” Pietersen wrote.

“Cover the nets when it rains maybe??? “PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!”.

Pietersen in September used Twitter to reveal his dropping from the England side for a one-day series against Pakistan, before any official announcement.

Captain Strauss said England’s cricketers had strict guidelines on the use of social networking sites, but refused to say what they were.

Asked if Pietersen had crossed the line, Strauss replied: “No, he didn’t.

“But it was obviously, there are kinds of degrees of everything, and we don’t want anything that distracts our attention from what is important, which is getting on the cricket pitch and performing.”

Strauss said Pietersen failed to realise the potential ramifications of his tweet. (ANI)