The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Prior backs Pietersen to come good

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Prior backs Pietersen to come good

— PHOTO: AP

DUE FOR A BIG ONE: Though Kevin Pietersen (right) is going through a slump in his batting form, England wicketkeeper Matt Prior is confident he will bounce back.

BIRMINGHAM: Kevin Pietersen may be undergoing something of a slump by his own standards but Matt Prior has said it will be no surprise to his England teammates if he plays a match-winning innings in Saturday’s final one-day international against the West Indies at Trent Bridge.

Pietersen, the leading batsman in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings for one-day cricket, has scored just 77 runs in four limited overs internationals this season.

But with the three-match series level at 1-1, Prior is expecting great things of his fellow South Africa-born cricketer.

“He is a fantastic cricketer, a champion legend who will become a legend of the game,” England wicket-keeper Prior said on Thursday.

“When he doesn’t score runs for a couple of games, people start talking about a crisis. He’s hitting the ball brilliantly in the nets and I’m sure he’ll score a brilliant hundred very soon — and it might even be on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, West Indies coach David Moore is confident key batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul will be fit for Saturday’s game.

Chanderpaul, who averaged over 148 during England’s 3-0 Test series win, showed his ability as a one-day batsman by scoring 116 not out in West Indies’ 61-run victory in the second one-day international at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

However, during the course of his innings, the 32-year-old strained ligaments in his right ankle and was unable to field.

“They (the medical staff) have worked very hard on his injury over the last couple of days and he’s having a hit in the nets today,” said Moore at England’s National Cricket Performance Centre where both teams trained indoors after rain prevented outdoor practice. — Agencies

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