The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : No giving up on attack: Pietersen

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 16, 2006

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Sport - Cricket

No giving up on attack: Pietersen

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Kevin Pietersen, the South African-born big-hitter, is ready for action. Known for a whirlwind career best 158 against Australia in the final Ashes Test at The Oval, Pietersen who lashed record seven sixes to help his team clinch the series, promises to continue in the same vein, though with needed adjustments.

"Attacking batting is a sign of the times and happening all over the world," said the England batsman, a colourful character in world cricket and named ICC's ODI player of the year and `emerging player of the year.' He referred to Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and M.S. Dhoni among contemporary batsmen who believe in attack as the best form of defence against bowlers.

Placing himself in the lower division compared to Indian batsmen now on the rampage against Pakistan, he said these batsmen played more shots in 10 balls than he plays in 150. "They are not sloggers, play good cricket shots."

Class spinners

Two world-class spinners in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh will temper his approach, not change it. "You can't go and play how you play in England or South Africa. You got to adjust to the conditions here and learn to play accordingly. It will take time but I am going to learn. I don't take long to get going in different conditions," he said, referring to England preparations against spin. "They (Kumble and Harbhajan) are world class spinners, who can bowl out any team in the world. I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing them."

Preparations

Talking about England technical preparations, he said the team is practising to face the left-arm seam attack that the host will provide, in the form of Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan and R.P. Singh. "We've seen and heard of your left-handed pace attack and practising accordingly, like angling the ball the left-armers would, to counter your world-class left-arm swing bowlers," said Pietersen in chat with the media at Hotel Taj Mahal.

England will be playing with the 0-2 Test series loss against Pakistan at the back of their minds. Pietersen made no excuses for the defeat a couple of months ago. "We went there and played as best as we could. Everybody gave 120 per cent. Nobody can say that we didn't try hard enough," he said about the Pakistan series.

He views the ICC awards as reward for positive approach to run-making. "The ICC awards were reward for being successful. It has made me only more determined to work harder to keep the scoreboard ticking," said Pietersen, rightly observing that it is easy reaching the top, but tougher staying there.

England commences the 2006 India tour with a three-day game with a makeshift Mumbai team, comprising Ranji and Cricket Club of India players at the CCI from February 18-20.

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