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Former stars question England's T20 bowling

Not selected in the England squad, Kevin Pietersen is questioning England's bowling tactics

With his former team on the end of a destructive Chris Gayle innings in their World T20 opener, Kevin Pietersen has expressed doubt over the ability of England’s bowlers to stop such an onslaught.

Pietersen, who has not been selected for the World T20 despite a superb record in the shortest format, has suggested England’s bowlers’ lack of experience in Indian conditions was telling in their six-wicket loss to the West Indies.

A rampant Gayle tore apart England’s bowling attack, smashing a brutal 48-ball unbeaten hundred to help the Caribbean side pass England’s total of 182 with 11 balls to spare.

WATCH: England swept away by Gayle force

Pietersen also questioned why England captain Eoin Morgan only bowled leg-spinner Adil Rashid, tipped by many to be England’s most important bowler for the tournament, for two of his possible quota of four overs.

"The only thing England should be concerned about is their bowling,” Pietersen said on Sky Sports after the match.

“Why did Adil Rashid only bowl two overs, for example, and who is England's other death bowler, besides Chris Jordan, who is brilliant at it.” 

“They haven't played cricket in India, though, and only Eoin Morgan has played in the IPL. That's a huge thing and it showed when Joe Root said 180 was a par score. It wasn't.”

Brought into the attack by Morgan following a successful batting powerplay for the West Indies, Rashid deceived Marlon Samuels with his fourth ball to have him caught at long-on.

But Gayle got hold of the him in his second over, belting two sixes and Morgan didn’t turn to him for the rest of the innings.

Rashid had an excellent KFC Big Bash League campaign with the Adelaide Strikers and Pietersen made no secret of his admiration of the leggie’s variations.

WATCH: Rashid's remarkable BBL season

"He now has the ability to bowl his googly and leg-spinner a little bit quicker,” Pietersen said.

“He was previously a bit one-paced with his leg-spinner and his googly wasn't as quick but now he varies his speeds and bowls both balls at the same pace, so you have less time to pick them as a batsman."

With Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Steven Finn all missing, England’s World T20 fast-bowling stocks are notably lacking experience.

None of the four selected specialist quicks – David Willey, Jordan, Reece Topley and Liam Plunkett – have played more than a dozen T20 Internationals and only Jordan played in the 2014 edition of the World T20.

WATCH: England quick takes hat-trick - against England

The 27 year old’s experience held him in good stead, he was the only bowler who managed to curtail Gayle, finishing with 1-24 off his four overs while every other bowler went at more than nine runs per over.

Pietersen wasn’t the only ex-player to voice his concerns over England’s bowling, with Graeme Swann’s predictions his former side would be in for a hiding against the West Indies proving correct.

Quick Single: Australia are World T20 favourites: Swann

“I won’t try to give you false hope,” Swann wrote in his column for The Sun in the lead up to the West Indies game. “I have worries about England’s seam bowling and it is unrealistic to expect their relatively inexperienced quartet to contain the biggest hitters on the planet.”

“The absence of Steven Finn through injury and Stuart Broad (not chosen) means England’s pace attack is short of X Factor.

“It might be expecting too much to think Willey, Jordan, Topley and Plunkett can restrain all the big hitters in the world – starting with Chris Gayle in the first game on Wednesday.”