Kevin Pietersen: 130 against Pakistan was my best one-day innings

Posted on February 22, 2012 by adminsports

Pietersen admits to best-ever one-day innings after sending Pakistan packing with terrific 130

Kevin Pietersen's match-winning 130 was the best, as well as highest, one-day international innings he has played to date.

That fair assessment came from the man himself, after he had underpinned England's pursuit of 237 all out against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to ensure a 4-0 series whitewash.

England's reward is a degree of consolation for their Test hammering against Pakistan here, and a move above their opponents into fourth in the International Cricket Council rankings.

For Pietersen, there is satisfaction on a personal and collective level for a performance which saw England home with four balls and four wickets to spare.

On a run: Pietersen hit his second successive century in dubai

England were, for once, minus Alastair Cook very early – and Pietersen responded with a world-class innings, for his second successive century at this venue with a nerveless display of skill against a spin-dominated attack.

From 68 for four in the 16th over, and for the remainder of England's run chase, his permanence was the only realistic chance of success.

Craig Kieswetter lent admirable support in a century stand for the fifth wicket – but for 49 overs, England would have been sunk without Pietersen.

Comparing his 153-ball contribution with all his other ODI innings, he said: 'I'm allowed to say it was probably the best one I've played.'

Pietersen's chief attributes were that, in stark contrast to his struggles in the Test series, he almost unerringly got bat and ball – and he always looked in control of a tough situation.

'I like to really calm things down and just watch the ball, and play it. I thought that the total they had, if I batted for 50 overs and took the game deep and batted with a bit of experience, we could come close.

'I just wanted to take the game deep, and I wanted to target bowlers as well. I think that was the key to the success.'

Unplayable: Pietersen hit 130 off 153 balls

Targeted as much as any, although he finished with three wickets, was off-spinner Saeed Ajmal – the scourge of Pietersen and others in those Test defeats.

Self-belief was perhaps Pietersen's biggest ally against four frontline spin bowlers.

'You need experience, lots of it, in order to keep the situation very simple – and back your ability. You need a lot of confidence in your ability.'

'When they picked the team and I saw they were going to bowl 40 overs of spin, I was like “oh no!”

'But the hard work I've been putting in with Mushy [spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed] has paid off.

'I'm not the finished article, by any stretch of the imagination. But wow, today I thoroughly enjoyed it.'

England beat Pakistan in fourth one-dayer in Dubai

Posted on February 21, 2012 by adminsports

Pietersen the hero as England complete whitewash with four-wicket win over Pakistan

Kevin Pietersen's second successive one-day international hundred carried England to a four-wicket victory, and 4-0 series whitewash of Pakistan.

Pietersen (130), without an ODI century for more than three years before his unbeaten 111 three days ago, repeated the dose for a career-best in another run chase under lights.

The outcome was in doubt for much longer this time, after a rare failure from Alastair Cook immediately put England's pursuit of 237 all out on the back foot.

Big hitter: Pietersen scored another valuable ton for England

Pakistan v England

Click here for the full scorecard

But Pietersen appeared in control
throughout in a 153-ball innings, which contained 12 fours and two
sixes, as England got the job done with four balls to spare at the Dubai
International Cricket Stadium.

He established a scoring rate that
kept England ahead of the game, even from a precarious 68 for four after
16 overs, to the extent that Pietersen and Craig Kieswetter's
fifth-wicket stand of 109 did not have to feature undue risks against
Pakistan's spinners.

The whitewash, England's first against
Pakistan for 25 years, was compensation of sorts for the 3-0 Test
series drubbing these opponents inflicted on them here this winter.

It will not be enough for a rankings rise from fifth in the International Cricket Council table.

But there was still reason for
satisfaction, as Pietersen and Kieswetter kept England on track after
Jade Dernbach's four for 45 had helped to restrict Pakistan.

England lost captain Cook to the
second ball of the innings, lbw to Junaid Khan after DRS overturned an
initial not-out verdict to a quick and full ball.

Four of the best: Dernbach was England's top wicket taker

Cook, on the back of two hundreds and an 80 in his last three attempts, began with a square-cut for four first ball.

But with him gone, Pietersen soon lost
Jonathan Trott too, to an attempted paddle-pull at Abdur Rehman which
looped into the leg side for a simple catch.

Eoin Morgan was lbw sweeping at Saeed
Ajmal (three for 62), and debutant Jos Buttler fell to the off-spinner
for a second-ball duck – caught at short-leg off the shoulder of a
defensive bat.

Pietersen and Kieswetter kept their
nerve, though, and demonstrated plenty of skill too against a
spin-dominated attack on a used pitch.

Pietersen's one significant scrape
came when he had to resort to DRS to disprove another lbw verdict, this
time on the basis that – albeit playing a hapless and uncomfortable
sweep at Rehman – he had achieved the basic prerequisite of positioning
his front pad outside the line of off-stump on impact.

Little went right, in fact, for
Pakistan as their fielding let them down again – and England's two South
Africa-born batsmen swept and drove them to shreds.

After Kieswetter was run out,
scampering back in vain from a faulty attempt at a single, Pietersen
muscled some crucial pulls too in a stand of 59 with Samit Patel until
he was last out – chipping Ajmal to point with only two runs needed.

Cut down: Shafiq (65) top scored for Pakistan but his innings was ended by Bresnan (above)

Asad Shafiq (65) and Azhar Ali (58)
had earlier ensured Pakistan recovered from their own early setback, the
dismissal of opener Mohammad Hafeez with just one run on the board
after Misbah-ul-Haq had won the toss.

Dernbach struck with only his second
delivery, finding the edge to see off Hafeez caught behind, and took two
tail-end wickets in his last three balls as England bowled Pakistan out
for the fourth successive time.

Yet Shafiq and Azhar soon found boundaries, and strike rotation, easy in a partnership of 111.

The second-wicket pair shared 11 fours in a passage of play interrupted only when Shafiq chopped on, trying to cut Tim Bresnan.

That was the fit-again Yorkshire
seamer's first international wicket of 2012, and debutant Danny Briggs
had the first of his career when Umar Akmal mistimed straight to
long-off.

Dernbach was the catcher, and was soon
back in the last column too – with a good delivery which held its line
off the pitch and saw Azhar squirt a thick edge to the diving Morgan at
point.

Pakistan had to rebuild again, and in new batsmen Misbah and Shoaib Malik they had the wise heads to do just that.

Return: The two teams will now play a three-match Twenty20 series, starting in Dubai on Thursday

When Misbah clipped Patel past
midwicket, it was for Pakistan's first four in 50 balls. But he and
Shoaib still gathered a run-a-ball momentum, and Misbah went up the
wicket to hoist Patel over long-on for six to bring up the 200 in the
43rd over.

Briggs proved the merit of his tight
lines and full length when he had Shoaib lbw sweeping, to end a stand of
58, and England had the best of the last 10 overs – which included six
wickets and just 58 runs.

Maeanwhile, Patel was playing his ninth
ODI of the winter, and therefore earned an England and Wales Cricket
Board increment contract.

Pakistan v England: Fourth ODI live score

Posted on February 21, 2012 by adminsports

Pakistan v England: Follow the latest score from the fourth ODI

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England have the chance to wrap up the series whitewash against Pakistan in today's final one-day international in Dubai.

Jos Buttler and Danny Briggs will make their ODI debuts as Alastair Cook's side look to secure a 4-0 triumph.

Cook led from the front with back-to-back tons in the first two matches and Kevin Pietersen rediscovered his touch with a century in Saturday's nine-wicket win.

England's quick bowlers, led by Steven Finn, have also been in fine form and will be looking to make early inroads after Pakistan won the toss chose to bat.

Click HERE for the live scorecard

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Umar Akmal, Shoiab Malik, Shahid Afridi, Adnan Akmal (wk), Junaid Khan, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Kevin Pietersen, Jonathon Trott, Eoin Morgan, Craig Kieswetter (wk), Jos Buttler, Samit Patel, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Steven Finn, Jade Dernbach

Umpires: HDPK Dharmasena and Zameer Haider

TV umpire: SJA Taufel

Match referee: JJ Crowe

Reserve umpire: Ahsan Raza

Kevin Pietersen won"t let DRS ruin his career

Posted on February 18, 2012 by adminsports

I won't let DRS ruin my game, says defiant KP as clock ticks on ODI career

Kevin Pietersen has blamed the decision-review system for the run of woeful form that threatens his England one-day place at least, but vowed to conquer his biggest challenge.

Pietersen is enduring his worst spell since he exploded on to the international scene seven years ago and desperately needs runs during the rest of this tour, starting with Saturday’s third one-day international here in Dubai, if he is to have a future in 50-over cricket.

He says he is remodelling his technique to cope with technology that, on this tour at least, has overturned the tradition of batsmen receiving the benefit of the doubt.

Looking to improve: Kevin Pietersen has failed to impress as an opener

As a sandstorm raged in Dubai, Pietersen
addressed the storm created by his inability to cope with the spin of
Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman on this tour.

‘I’ve played a lot of cricket for England but this has been very hard,’
he said. ‘Batters have had to worry about the DRS, worry about the ball
hitting your pad and having to change technique to try to counter it.
The benefit of the doubt is certainly not with the batter now, which is
quite sad.’

Pietersen insists that even though he has appeared a distracted, almost
isolated, figure at times here he is relishing a battle he has to win,
even though he still has credit in the bank in Test cricket after
averaging close to 70 last year.

DRS woes: Pietersen is not a fan of lbw technology

‘We think it’s tragic that this is happening but I’m actually at a stage
of my career where it’s quite nice,’ he said. ‘It’s something for me to
really go hard at and try to perfect. I’ve been having real good
conversations with Andy Flower because we talk proper batting.

‘It’s not as simple as saying I’ve just got to use my bat rather than
pad because you have to check the line of the stumps. Batters now think
they have four or five stumps to try to defend. But it’s fun. It’s new
and I’m loving coming to training and learning this stuff. And it will
only really affect things in the sub-continent. In England, where the
ball bounces and comes on to the bat, it won’t be the same.

‘The wheel’s not in my favour at the moment. All batsmen need to get
runs, of course they do, but if you get them, you get them and if you
don’t, you don’t. That’s how I look at it now. I’m 100 per cent
confident that the wheel will turn again. Only a cricketer will
understand me when I say that I feel in very good form. I’m just not
getting the rub of the green and I’m working on something. It’s not a
complete remodelling of technique. It’s very simple. I’m going in at the
moment and if I can get to 20 I’m hoping it will be a case of “see you
later” for the bowlers.’

Frustration: Pietersen throws his bat in the air after being dismissed by Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal

Pietersen, who wants to open the batting in one-day cricket permanently,
says that umpire Simon Taufel, who has reservations about DRS, said
sorry for giving him out lbw to his old nemesis Rehman in the final
Test.

‘Simon came and apologised to me the next morning in Dubai. He asked me
if he was still on my Christmas card list and I said, “Don’t worry about
it, it’s fine”. He’s given a decision he wouldn’t have given before
Hawk-Eye and the benefit of the doubt has gone to the bowler. It
shouldn’t be umpire’s call when it’s just clipping the leg-stump. It
should be not out. I really think it’s very unfair.’

Pietersen, who believes that Rehman in particular will be nowhere near
as effective away from sub-continental conditions, insists he has a
fatalistic approach to the remainder of his England career and the
criticism he attracts. ‘What will be will be. I have absolutely no
interest in criticism these days. I used to. But now people can say what
they want because my skin is very, very thick.

Practice makes perfect: Pietersen during an England nets session

‘Fitness and form are two huge things in a sportsman’s life and at the
moment I’m very fit. As soon as form catches fitness we’ll have much
better press conferences.’

The rest of this tour will go a long way to defining the next chapter of the eventful Kevin Pietersen story.

Kevin Pietersen confident of scoring more runs for England

Posted on February 17, 2012 by adminsports

KP hopes to follow captain Cook by getting in on the runs

Kevin Pietersen is confident he and others can take their lead from captain Alastair Cook's scintillating form, in the remainder of England's one-day international series against Pakistan.

Pietersen shared two half-century stands with Cook as England went 2-0 up in Abu Dhabi, with just two more matches to play in Dubai – starting on Saturday.

He has not, however, convinced on his return to the opener's role – contributing 14 and 26 to the two victories, in which Cook has made back-to-back hundreds.

Looking to improve: Kevin Pietersen has failed to impress as an opener

It is heartening for England to have taken control of the ODI series to date, following their unexpected 3-0 Test whitewash against Pakistan here.

'It's been a really good turnaround after the Test matches,' said Pietersen.
'The team have done really well.

'Cook and Ravi (Bopara) have done a brilliant job, and [fast bowler] Steven Finn has been remarkable.

'Cooky's such a good player, who is fulfilling his role in the team really, really well.

'You can't complain when you get two hundreds in successive games.'
England's initial practice plans were blown off course at the ICC's GCA ground today, by what some described as Dubai's worst sandstorm in at least six years.

In good form: Alastair Cook has been in the runs during the One Day series

But irrespective of available net time, Pietersen made it clear there are no doubts in the ranks that he and the rest of the batsmen are well capable of pulling their weight soon too.

It is part of coach Andy Flower's teaching that even the best players come in and out of form, and the key is that England have the talent to be sure that enough batsmen and bowlers are making runs and taking wickets all the time – even when some of their team-mates are not.

Frustration: Pietersen throws his bat in the air after being dismissed by Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal

'Andy's a great believer, and the team realise, that not every single person in the team is always going to be on form – and a few of us haven't been in the best of nick,” added Pietersen.

'But dovetailing is a word Andy has used a lot over the last few years, since he's come into the job – and you need that.

Practice makes perfect: Pietersen during an England nets session

'That's why we've done so well.

'We were fortunate to have a lot of players in a lot of good form over the last 18 months, and then quite a few who have struggled on this trip.

'But the dovetailing in the one-day team has certainly been there, and it's proven by the way we've played in the last couple of games.'

England beat Pakistan by 20 runs in second one-dayer in Abu Dhabi

Posted on February 15, 2012 by adminsports

Century boy Cook the hero again as England win second ODI with Pakistan by 20 runs

Alastair Cook's second hundred in successive one-day internationals once more underpinned victory as England went 2-0 up with two to play against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

Two days after his career-best 137, Cook (102) became the 10th England batsman – and first since Paul Collingwood five years ago – to make back-to-back ODI centuries.

The captain had to work a little harder in England's 250 for four this time – dropped by wicketkeeper Umar Akmal on 28, having chosen to bat first on a slow pitch – and his team did too, to get home by a mere 20 runs, compared to Monday's 130-run win.

All smiles: England bowled excellently at the death to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series

Pakistan v England

Click here for the full scorecard

Cook belied his characteristically
functional style by manufacturing some memorable shots among his 10
fours for a 118-ball hundred, in a match which bore obvious similarities
to the first one of the series here.

Cook's success at the toss, his
man-of-the-match hundred, Ravi Bopara's second consecutive 50 and
identical figures for Steven Finn (four for 34) were constants from the
tourists' first success, on this quick return to the Zayed Stadium.

But for variation it was Samit Patel,
with the ball and in the field, who made perhaps the most telling
interventions as six Pakistan batsmen made double figures but
Misbah-ul-Haq top-scored with just 47.

Cook and Kevin Pietersen shared their second 50 opening stand in as many attempts together.

Early progress was nonetheless
patchy, Cook playing out a maiden to Umar Gul's first over of the match
and needing 10 balls to get off the mark.

Hero: Cook hammered another century as England reached the respectable total of 250

But he did so with an especially
well-timed back-foot drive wide of mid-off for four off Aizaz Cheema,
and soon afterwards beat the same fielder with a drive on the up off
Mohammad Hafeez for the second of two successive fours off the
off-spinner.

Shahid Afridi used up Pakistan's DRS
for an lbw against Pietersen which vindicated the umpire and spared the
batsman, but Pietersen could add only three more runs before Saeed Ajmal
hit him in front anyway in his first over with an off-break that beat
the forward poke.

Cook survived when Akmal dropped a
faint edge from an attempted cut at Afridi, but the wicketkeeper did
manage to hold a routine catch to see off Jonathan Trott after a
flat-footed waft at a wide ball from Cheema.

Much therefore depended on Cook and Bopara again, and the Essex pair duly served their country well in a stand of 78.

Bopara would have been run out for
one by a direct hit, taking an unlikely single to Imran Farhat at
mid-on. But he went on to rotate the strike cleverly and push a
run-a-ball tempo throughout.

Up against it: Pakistan now can't win the series after another defeat at the Sheikh Zayed stadium

Even-stevens: Pakistan drew the series level in the final ODI at the Sheikh Zayed stadium

The third-wicket pair's accumulation
peaked with 38 runs in the batting powerplay, only for Cook to go
immediately afterwards when he poked a googly straight back to Afridi.

But Bopara kept his cool, despite
managing only four boundaries – and Eoin Morgan weighed in with the
first six of the series in a partnership of 56 inside the last 10 overs.

The total appeared marginally above par.

It was game on, though, after a
cautious yet effective opening stand of 61 between Hafeez and Farhat
which ended when the former fell to a tame clip to midwicket off James
Anderson.

Stuart Broad was then alert to run
out Farhat by throwing down the wickets in his follow-through as the
batsman scampered back short of his crease.

Patel was responsible for the next
two wickets, Younus Khan lbw pushing forward and Azhar Ali bowled
off-stump as he shaped to cut a quicker ball which also turned a little.

Boom, boom: Bopara scored another half-century but Afridi's cameo lasted just 18 runs

Patel had a hand in the next too, a
crucial one when he dived athletically to his left at cover to take a
very good low catch off the returning Finn to see off the dangerous
Akmal just as Pakistan were gathering momentum in the powerplay.

Misbah-ul-Haq had survived on 29 via a
marginal umpire's call lbw on DRS against Finn – and after Afridi
survived a tough chance at long-off to a diving Broad and then hit 10
from two balls in Patel's last over, English nerves were fluttering
again.

A tight match remained that way right
to the end. But a wicket maiden from Anderson, Afridi bowled heaving to
leg, gave the tourists just enough breathing space as Finn then bowled
Abdur Rehman and in the 48th over Misbah fell to a steepling, swirling
mishit at Broad which was superbly caught by wicketkeeper Craig
Kieswetter.

Four more: Finn ended with figures of 4-34 - exactly the same as the first match in Abu Dhabi

Four more: Finn ended with figures of 4-34 – exactly the same as the first match in Abu Dhabi

England beat Pakistan in first ODI

Posted on February 13, 2012 by adminsports

Cook crushes Pakistan as England win ODI series opener in Abu Dhabi

England have beaten Pakistan by 130 runs in the first ODI.

Alastair Cook smashed a career-best 137 and Ravi Bopara hit 50 as England set Pakistan a target of 261 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Steven Finn took four wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for 130 to give England the early advantage in the four-match series.

Full report to follow….

On fire: Alastair Cook celebrates reaching three figures in Abu Dhabi

All smiles: Steven Finn is congratulated by Kevin Pietersen after taking the wicket of Asad Shafiq

Pakistan v England

Click here for the full scorecard

Kevin Pietersen, Stuart Broad and Jonathan Trott in taxi terror

Posted on February 12, 2012 by adminsports

England trio are hit for six after taxi terror… but Bresnan is fit and ready

Tim Bresnan is fit and ready for action at last and so are another three of his England team-mates – despite an alarming taxi ride they could have done without.

Kevin Pietersen, Stuart Broad and Jonathan Trott were hardly expecting any dramas on a short excursion from their team hotel. But as Pietersen later told the world via Twitter, that is what they got when the car bonnet flew up and hit the windscreen.

Ready for action: Tim Bresnan bowls during a nets session on Saturday

'I'll tell you what's not pleasant – driving at 100kmh and the bonnet of the car decides to fly open and slam the window,' tweeted Pietersen.

He had recovered his composure by the time England's practice took place under lights at the Zayed Stadium, where they will face Pakistan in the first of four one-day internationals on Monday.

Bresnan was also present, able to bat and bowl in the nets with no discomfort from the post-operative elbow pain which prevented him playing any part in England's 3-0 Test series defeat against Pakistan here.

The Yorkshire seamer had to fly home before the first Test and returned on the penultimate day of that series, having rested the injury for three weeks and undergone a succession of fitness checks.

Bresnan played in the warm-up win over England Lions and reported that his elbow is no longer giving him any significant pain. 'As far as I'm concerned, I'm available for selection,' he said.

Rank taxi: Kevin Pietersen

'It's a massive relief to be involved again,' Bresnan said. 'It's been quite a frustrating time not being able to do anything, not being able to bowl. I was just sat there watching the Tests on TV driving my missus nuts, so she'll be happy I'm out here now.

'It's tough watching the boys lose. We like winning as a team, but it's nice to be out there even if we're not. We all stick together, it's like an extended family for me.

'We spend so much time with these lads and I felt every inch of their loss as well, so it's a nightmare when you're so far away.'

Bresnan was not at his best in the seven-wicket win over the Lions but showed enough to suggest he can recapture the form that has made him a mainstay of the one-day side in recent years.

'It was my first game in three months, but hopefully it will all go well from there,' he said.

'Bowling is a rhythm thing. You can't just run up and put everything into it and expect to be at full steam, you need to get your rhythm and hope everything just clicks together.

'It was good to get back in the game. I thought I bowled all right for my first game in three months.

'I bowled a few bad balls but you're going to expect that, it's not quite on its little string as it usually is, it's going to take time.'

Bresnan has become something of a lucky charm for England, especially in the Test arena, where he has won all 10 matches in which he's featured.

His Midas touch has not quite crossed over into the 50-over format, which England appear no closer to mastering than when Flower took over as coach three years ago. Bresnan, whose Test record of 318 runs at 45.42 and 41 wickets at 23.6 stands comparison with most, is sure to bring some extra swagger and power to an England side that will see Kevin Pietersen open with captain Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara bat at four.

Asked if he could one day become the best all-rounder in world cricket, Bresnan replied: 'I don't see why not. I work hard on my game every day and I'd like to think I can get better. I suppose it depends who else is around at the time.'

Pakistan are sure to employ the same tactics in the one-day series that saw them run out such comfortable winners in the Tests, with spinners Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman and Mohammad Hafeez likely to continue to torment them.

'What's gone is gone now,' Bresnan said. 'It's a different challenge altogether, one-dayers and Testmatch cricket.

'There's a lot of new faces, lads who've had a lot of success in Sri Lanka with the Lions and that's boosted everyone as well. The mood inside this camp is fantastic.'

Cricket: Lions fail to bite in Abu Dhabi

Posted on February 11, 2012 by adminsports

Lions fail to bite in bizarre warm-up for Ajmal in Abu Dhabi

England found the perfect solution to their batting problems on Friday — they faced up to English bowling.

The result was a damp squib of a one-day warm-up match as England coasted to a contrived victory over their own second-string Lions side which will mean little when they again come up against Pakistan and Saeed Ajmal on Monday.

While Pakistan took part in a proper one-day international under lights against Afghanistan in front of a packed crowd in Sharjah, the next generation of England players were being exposed here by their seniors.

Back in the runs: Kevin Pietersen looked in better form on Friday

Not exactly a case of daylight robbery, but it was odd that England did not take the chance to replicate conditions they will face in their four-match day-night series.

England bowled first at the early start time of 9.15am, when there was moisture in the surface and zip off the pitch, but it was disappointing to see emerging talents like Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, James Vince and Alex Hales failing to make any sort of impact.

There has been nothing wrong with England’s bowling throughout this chastening tour and Steven Finn and Jade Dernbach, two seamers who played no part in the Test series, took six Lions wickets between them on a helpful Sheik Zayed Stadium pitch where Tim Bresnan managed five overs on his return from injury.

So poor was the effort of a Lions team coming off the back of a successful tour of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that they could muster only 96 all out, albeit 24 more than England scored when last here.

That was such a paltry target for an England team in desperate need of time in the middle that the management abandoned their policy of playing ‘proper’ warm-up games and set themselves the challenge of 230 in 50 overs.

Turning his arm over: Samit Patel bowls in Abu Dhabi on Friday

Even that was a sign of fragile English confidence because they should have tried to reach in excess of 300 to give themselves a real taste of what will be in store against Pakistan.

Instead, their need to make sure they recorded a victory, any victory, was betrayed by their very English 50-over chase, one the seniors completed by seven wickets with 25 balls remaining.

It was encouraging to see Kevin Pietersen responding to his new one-day opener’s role by playing authoritatively for his brisk 41, even though the Lions tried to fox him by opening the bowling with a left-arm spinner in Danny Briggs.

Alastair Cook, a success in his new role as one-day captain last summer, was efficient in his 68 off 91 balls, Ravi Bopara came in at No 4, hitting 36 off 45 and Jonathan Trott did what he always does in batting at his own pace to lead England home with an unbeaten 75.

But given the task ahead, it was hardly the test England needed.

Meanwhile, in a proper game of cricket…

Looking good: Younis Khan on his way to a half century (above) and Pakistan supporters celebrate in Sharjah (below)

Looking good: Younis Khan on his way to a half century (above) and Pakistan supporters celebrate in Sharjah (below)

Pakistan fans

Kevin Pietersen told to prove himself as an opener

Posted on February 8, 2012 by adminsports

Prove your worth! Flower challenges out-of-form KP to deliver the goods at the top

Kevin Pietersen has been challenged to save his ailing one-day career by doing something special at the top of the order.

Andy Flower confirmed that Pietersen will open along with Alastair Cook when England attempt to salvage pride in their four-match one-day series against Pakistan from Monday.

It is a big chance for Pietersen, who is without a one-day century for more than three years, to prove that he has the hunger and desire to still play limited overs cricket.

Got him: Kevin Pietersen has been out of form in the Tests against Pakistan, and out of sorts for more than a year in the shorter forms

‘We think Pietersen can win games for England at the top of the order,’ said Flower. ‘His natural aggression should ensure we get off to quick starts and it gives him the opportunity to face a lot of balls. I also hope he finds the challenge exciting and reinvigorates a new lease of life in him in one-day cricket.’

Only the threat of losing his central
contract stopped Pietersen from retiring from 50-over cricket at the end
of the World Cup and he must deliver now if England are not to make the
decision for him.

‘We’ve chatted about one-day cricket
and he’s hungry to do well for England in it,’ added Flower. ‘He’s
looking forward to this new role that was interrupted by his injury at
the World Cup and he’s had limited success at four so we’re going to
give someone else a go there.

ENGLAND SQUADS

ODI SQUAD: Cook (capt), Anderson, Bairstow, Bopara, Bresnan, Briggs,
Broad, Buttler, Dernbach, Finn, Kieswetter, Morgan, Patel, Pietersen,
Swann, Trott.

T20 SQUAD: Broad (capt), Anderson, Bairstow, Bopara, Bresnan, Briggs,
Buttler, Dernbach, Finn, Hales, Kieswetter, Morgan, Patel, Pietersen,
Swann.

‘He and Cook are the first batsmen with the opportunity of doing something special for England and that’s a privileged position.

'I've chatted to him and a number of
our players about going on to the next World Cup in 2015 and I think
he’s hungry, fit enough and good enough to play on until then. But we
don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.’

A line appears to have been drawn under
the one-day career of Ian Bell, who has never convinced as a one-day
player in 108 internationals, but there are 50-over places for gifted
Somerset batsman Jos Buttler and Hampshire left-arm spinner Danny Briggs
for the first time. There was also another warning from Flower that
Samit Patel still has work to do on his waistline

‘Samit has done certain work and he’s
still inching in the right direction,’ said the team director. ‘But he’s
still got a lot of work to do. He’s done well for the Lions and handled
himself well but we expect a serious push on the physical side from him
and others.’

Somerset coach Andy Hurry will shadow
Flower during the series and effectively act as his number two after
Richard Halsall returned home yesterday for the birth of his new child.
England want to get the best county coaches working with them and
Flower.

Sports Bound Guide

Sports Bound Guide. Fresh Sports News

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