KP puts Lehmann in place after stinging BBL critique
Kevin Pietersen has hit back at Australia cricket coach Darren Lehmann's suggestions that the Melbourne Stars would be better off without him.
The former England batsman finished the BBL season as one of the leading run-scorers - 268 runs at an average of 38.28 in eight matches.
But after the Stars crashed out of the Big Bash semi-finals against the Perth Scorchers on Tuesday night, Lehmann said he thought Pietersen's time with the franchise should be up.
"@KP24 @tensporttv @BBL time for stars to move KP on, spent to much money on him and didn't win. Don't want to listen to his excuses anymore," he wrote.
But the South African-born star has fired back at Lehmann's unprompted criticism, and presented a compelling case of his own.
"I can only do my best for the Stars and I think I've done pretty well, Pietersen said.
"First year I shared player of the year, second year I was player of the year, this year I have top-scored.
"I also think that the Stars probably wouldn't have got involved from a team or a campaign (perspective) in such a huge way for the rhinos (an anti-poaching awareness initiative) if I didn't offer anything to the franchise.
"So I'm very happy where I am, I love playing in Australia, I love playing for the Melbourne Stars and it's like home to me."
Melbourne Stars president Eddie McGuire yesterday defended his star batsman, and suggested that Lehmann butt out of his side's affairs.
"KP's not the highest paid player at the Stars for a start," he said on Triple M.
"He has delivered in spades. I'm not going to have a go at Boof Lehmann, because I'm barracking for Boof Lehmann to do well."
"He has bought in that many people. The last two years, which team has had the biggest crowds in the history of Twenty 20 Big Bash? He is a crowd favourite.
"Why would Darren Lehmann be sticking his head into the Melbourne Stars?"