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Kevin Pietersen: India, Pakistan, England, Australia and South Africa will be only teams playing Test cricket in next decade

Interestingly, West Indies — two-time World Cup winning side and a former champion Test team — found no mention in Kevin Pietersen's list.

Kevin Pietersen © Getty Images
Kevin Pietersen © Getty Images

Former England  skipper Kevin Pietersen has made a bold claim that by the next decade, only India, England, Pakistan, Australia  and South Africa will be the teams playing Test cricket. With the rise of West Indies‘ T20I side, and contrasting fortunes in their longer format, Pietersen didn’t include them in his list. To remind the readers, Clive Lloyd-led West Indies were a force to reckon with in 1970s and 1980s. Not only did they win the first two editions of World Cup — in 1975 and 1979 — they also remained unbeaten in a Test series for 15 years in between 1980 and 1995.

Here we go – in 10yrs the only cricket Test playing nations will be, England, SA, India, Pakistan & Australia.

Surprisingly, Pietersen left out New Zealand from his list. The Kiwis have been a good Test side, but never got hold of the coveted Test mace. Interestingly, all the teams mentioned have been No. 1 at one point or the other in the current decade. India are currently ranked No. 1 in ICC Test rankings.

West Indies cricket have hit a new long since long. They are ranked No. 8 in latest Test rankings, and will play the World Cup Qualifiers for a place in the mega event. In addition, their star players have continuously shown more inclination towards representing various T20 franchises, ignoring Test matches.

Pietersen’s claims aren’t completely baseless. Isn’t it?

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