Summary Kevin Pietersen blasted England footballer Jack Wilshere over 'England for English people' comments.
LONDON (AFP) - Kevin Pietersen took to Twitter to question England footballer Jack Wilshere s belief that only English players should represent the national side.
Pietersen, born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa to an English mother and South African father, has become a mainstay of the England cricket team and is just one match away from appearing in 100 Tests.
He is one of a number of players across several sports, including Jamaica-born footballer John Barnes, who ve represented England without being born in the country, a legacy of the country s imperial past, mixed marriages and, more recently, greater global migration.
But Wilshere said Tuesday: "The only people who should play for England are English people. If you live in England for five years it doesn t make you English."
However, Pietersen pointing to his own case and that of several other South Africa-born England cricketers as well as Somali-born double Olympic champion Mo Farah, said: "Jack Wilshere -- interested to know how you define foreigner...?
"Would that include me, (Andrew) Strauss (the ex-England cricket captain), (Jonathan) Trott (England batsman), (Matt) Prior (England wicketkeeper), Justin Rose (South Africa-born golfer), (Chris) Froome (Kenya-born Tour de France champion), Mo Farah?"
Following a back and forth Twitter exchange Wilshere, who sparked a nationwide debate ahead of the England football team s key World Cup qualifier against Montengero at Wembley on Friday, clarified his remarks late Wednesday by saying: "To be clear, never said born in England -- I said English people should play for England.
"Great respect for people like KP (Kevin Pietersen), Mo Farah and Wilf Zaha -- they make the country proud.
"My view on football -- going to a new country when ur an adult, & because u can get a passport u play 4 that national team -- I disagree."
Earlier, Wilshere, 21, insisted he d only been talking about his own sport.
"With all due respect Mr Pietersen the question was about Football! Cricket, cycling, Athletics is not my field!"
That didn t satisfy the Pietersen, with the 33-year-old former England captain replying: "Same difference.. It s about representing your country! IN ANY SPORT!"
Wilshere s initial remarks came against the backdrop of the Football Association looking into the eligibility of rising Manchester United star Adnan Januzaj.
Belgium-born winger Januzaj can play for the country of his birth, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia and Turkey and the 18-year-old could also one day represent England on residency grounds.
Wilshere said having foreign-born players in the team risked diluting the essential character of the side.
"You think of England and you think they are brave and they tackle hard. We have to remember that," he said.
To be English you should be born in England
Wilshere s view was backed by former England football captain Alan Shearer, who told the BBC: "I am of the opinion that to be English you should be born in England...Adnan Januzaj looks a fantastic young talent.
"But just because you ve lived in England for five years that doesn t mean you can play for the national team."
However, FA chairman Greg Dyke, speaking earlier Wednesday, said Wilshere had gone too far and that were his view to be enforced Farah would have never have run for Great Britain at last year s London Olympics.
