Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has called for Liam Livingstone and Harry Brook to be given Test debuts this summer, claiming the pair have "great skill and a proper mentality".
With only new captain Ben Stokes and former skipper Joe Root guaranteed to feature in the first Test of the summer provided they are fit, spots are up for grabs. Pietersen has repeatedly advocated for Livingstone to be given a chance in Test cricket, with the 28-year-old already a key member of England's white ball setup.
He is currently in action for Punjab Kings in the IPL, where he has struck an impressive 293 runs at an average of 32.55 and a strike rate of 186.62. Brook, meanwhile, has been in impressive form for Yorkshire in the County Championship.
The 23-year-old has struck 512 runs at an average of 170.66 in five innings so far this season, including two hundreds and three half-centuries. Brook made his T20I debut for England in January and has built on a solid first-class season last year, which saw him average just under 40.
In his latest Betway blog, Pietersen wrote: "It's about time that England backed the talent of Liam Livingstone. He is so free-spirited and I love the way that he is eager to entertain.
"He wants to give it a smack so he just does, no holding back. It's awesome to watch. There aren't many better batters than him in England, I tell you.
"He's used to playing in this high-pressure environment and he's loving it. I would have him straight in the Test side at five or six. He can change the nature of a match very quickly by taking bowling attacks apart.
"Of course he would fail at times, but when he goes well, crikey, you would have a guy who can destroy the opposition by scoring quick, entertaining runs. Another name I mentioned last summer, Harry Brook, has made a brilliant start to the summer in England.
"I think that Rob Key is on the same page as me in terms of picking players with great skill and a proper mentality, with a bit of oomph about them. Hopefully that's the kind of team England will pick for their first Test of the summer in a few weeks."
