Patient Pietersen helps England to safety

Updated December 13, 2012 22:50:11

An uncharacteristic stealthy knock from Kevin Pietersen and a lower middle-order rearguard effort brought England near parity at the end of the first day of the fourth Test with India.

The tourists ended the day on 5 for 199, with debutant Joe Root unbeaten on 31 and wicketkeeper Matt Prior with him on 34.

It was Pietersen's innings of 73 from 188 balls which stopped the Indians from setting up a much-needed victory to draw the series, which England currently lead 2-1.

Controversially, India went into the game with four spinners and Ishant Sharma the only recognised pace bowler, but he did the job of two men taking the wickets of openers Nick Compton (3) and crucially Alastair Cook (1).

Jonathan Trott (44) put on 86 with Pietersen to take England past the three figures mark before shouldering arms to a straight delivery from Ravinda Jadeja (2 for 34).

Ian Bell's indifferent run of form continued as he fell for one to leg-spinner Piyush Chawla playing in his first Test for India in four-and-a-half years.

Debutant all-rounder Jadeja frustrated the England bowlers with 13 maidens from his 25 overs and eventually Pietersen's patience ran out as he gited a catch to Ojha.

At 5 for 139 England was in trouble but Root and Prior held on for the rest of the final session to leave the match finely poised going into the second day.

Tags: sport, cricket, india, england

First posted December 13, 2012 22:50:11

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Proteas deny they baited Pietersen

Updated October 09, 2012 07:44:58

South Africa has rubbished claims its players provoked the text message row that led to England axing batsman Kevin Pietersen.

Pietersen was dropped for the final Test and a one-day international series against South Africa and the World Twenty20 tournament after allegedly criticising England captain Andrew Strauss in texts to South African players.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive David Collier claimed Sunday in a radio interview that the Pietersen texts were a response to messages from the opposition.

But Cricket South Africa (CSA) acting chief executive Jacques Faul poured scorn on the claims by Collier, labelling them "absolute rubbish" in a statement.

"This is absolute rubbish. What is particularly disappointing is that I had a face-to-face meeting with Collier when in London for the Lord's Test and he did not raise this allegation with me then.

"I would have thought, as a matter of courtesy and decency, that he would have spoken to me about it before going public in the media," said the South African official.

"It is not the way CSA goes about its business and it is not the way the ECB has done business with us in the past. It is very disappointing because our relationships have always been cordial and constructive.

"This is an internal ECB matter in which we do not wish to be involved. It served as a distraction to our players that we did not need during the Test series."

South Africa-born Pietersen will be in the country this month as part of the Delhi Daredevils squad competing in the fourth edition of the Champions League Twenty20 competition.

Pietersen apologised last week for sending the messages and signed a new central contract with the ECB after the two sides agreed "a process for his re-integration into the England team".

Collier said Pietersen, a 32-year-old native of KwaZulu Natal capital city Pietermaritzburg, was only replying to Blackberry Messenger messages sent by the opposition.

"That is our understanding," Collier told the BBC Radio Five Live Sportsweek programme during an interview. "I have not seen those messages and no one has kept those messages.

"These were responses to messages from certain members of the South Africa team and I would not condone an England player doing it if it was the other way round. I certainly think they (South Africa) provoked the situation."

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, south-africa

First posted October 09, 2012 07:44:58

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Pietersen back in England fold after apology

Updated October 03, 2012 21:12:19

Kevin Pietersen can return to the England fold after making peace with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in a row over "provocative" text messages.

The ECB released a statement outlining Pietersen had apologised to former England captain Andrew Strauss and could potentially return to the squad for the tour of India later this year.

"Agreement has been reached concerning a process for his re-integration into the England team during the remainder of 2012," the statement said.

"Upon completion of the program, the England selectors will consider Kevin for future matches.

"Kevin Pietersen has apologised to Andrew Strauss and wishes to express to all those who support England his regrets at the impact the recent controversies have had on the England team.

"He now wishes to put the events of the summer behind him and to focus on regaining his place in the England team."

Pietersen, who has averaged nearly 50 in 88 Test matches, was dropped in August after admitting sending messages to members of the opposing South Africa squad, which he conceded were provocative but denied were derogatory about Strauss.

He said he had deleted those messages and the ECB claimed the issue had been "successfully concluded through a binding assurance provided by Kevin".

Pietersen has been commentating on the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted October 03, 2012 21:12:19

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Pietersen left out of India tour

Updated September 18, 2012 21:17:08

Kevin Pietersen has been left out of England's Test squad for the tour of India as the controversial batsman pays the price for the text message scandal that has left his international career in tatters.

Pietersen was dropped for the final Test against South Africa after sending texts to opposition players that contained criticism of then England captain Andrew Strauss.

The South Africa-born star has since met England coach Andy Flower for clear-the-air talks, but there are still issues to be resolved and that meant there was no place for Pietersen on the plane to India.

While Pietersen remains in exile at present, England cricket managing director Hugh Morris left the door open for the 32-year-old to return to the fold in the future.

"Both ECB and England team management have had meetings with Kevin Pietersen to address the issues which led to his omission from the final Test match against South Africa," Morris said on Tuesday.

"These discussions remain private and confidential and as there are issues still to be resolved Kevin has not been considered for selection for the India tour."

Strauss retired from all cricket in the immediate aftermath of the Pietersen row and the fall-out from a stormy few months for English cricket continues to be felt.

Distracted by the controversy over Pietersen, England lost their place on top of the Test rankings to South Africa after being beaten by the Proteas in the recent series.

There were also reports that Pietersen's relationship with the rest of his England team-mates had deteriorated over recent months and it has proved impossible to resolve so much conflict in just a few weeks.

Pietersen's omission and the selectors' decision to drop Essex batsman Ravi Bopara after a poor run of form this year paved the way for two uncapped batsmen to be included in Alastair Cook's 16-man squad for the four-match Test series.

Somerset's Nick Compton and Yorkshire's Joe Root have been called up after both enjoyed impressive seasons in English county cricket.

Compton, the 29-year-old grandson of England great Denis Compton, was the top English batsman in the county championship with an average of 99.

Root opened the batting for Yorkshire, averaging 43.41 and winning the Cricket Writers Club Young Cricketer of the Year award on Monday.

The 21-year-old is being lined up to fill the gap left by Strauss's shock retirement.

The squad includes three spin bowlers, Samit Patel, Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann, as England adapt to the demands of playing on the slow pitches in India.

Speaking about the two uncapped batsmen, national selector Geoff Miller said: "Nick Compton has performed well consistently for Somerset in County cricket this season, made big hundreds and shown that he has the temperament and the technique to play at a higher level.

"Joe Root is a player who has been successful at every level from county cricket through to EPP and England Lions, and he deserves this opportunity to step up to the next level and press his case for a place in the Test side."

The selectors have also named a 17-strong England performance programme (EPP) squad which will undertake a month-long tour of India from mid-November and a seven-strong squad for next month's Hong Kong Sixes tournament which will be captained by Leicestershire batsman Josh Cobb.

England squad for tour of India:

Alastair Cook (cpt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Nick Comptonn, Steven Finn, Graham Onions, Eoin Morgan, Monty Panesar, Samit Patel, Matt Prior (wkt), Joe Root, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott

AFP

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First posted September 18, 2012 21:17:08

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Pietersen left off England contract list

Updated September 08, 2012 09:11:07

There was no place for Kevin Pietersen among the ten players awarded central contracts by the England and Wales Cricket Board for the 2013 season.

Pietersen has been in England exile since being dropped following the second Test against his native South Africa in Leeds last month.

But the ECB did not completely close the door on Pietersen being added to the list for what will be an Ashes year, saying in a statement on Saturday (AEST): "In respect to Kevin Pietersen discussions are on-going and they remain private."

Officials, already frustrated by availability rows, were furious when it emerged Pietersen had sent "provocative" texts to South African players -- some allegedly critical of then England captain Andrew Strauss.

That meant the 32-year-old batsman missed the final Test against the Proteas at Lord's and the subsequent one-day series, which ended in a 2-2 draw with one no-result after the tourists' seven-wicket win at Trent Bridge.

Pietersen, who last month reversed his retirement from limited overs internationals, will also miss England's defence of their World Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka later this month, despite being man of the tournament when they won the 2010 edition in the Caribbean.

Strauss announced his retirement last week, although he insisted it had nothing to do with the latest row involving Pietersen, his predecessor as England skipper.

Alastair Cook, already leading the one-day side, was named as the new Test captain.

He now has a role in deciding Pietersen's future, although there appears to be little time for the ECB and the player to reach agreement if, as anticipated, the squad for the tour of India starting in November is announced next week.

"Over the next couple of weeks, it's certainly an issue which we as the ECB will have to get resolved," Cook said this week. "There is stuff which needs to be talked about behind closed doors. That will happen."

Pietersen has been contracted to the ECB since 2006 and is in the top bracket of the pay scale, with a deal reportedly worth ?250,000 ($385,000) a year in basic salary but rising substantially with win bonuses and appearance fees.

The contract ties the player to the board and he can only play in tournaments such as the Indian Premier League with a release agreement from the ECB.

Pietersen's desire to play more often in the lucrative Twenty20 IPL has been central to his recent dispute with the ECB.

In an interview with the latest edition of the Cricketer magazine, he said of the IPL: "Every board has accepted it apart from the ECB. Some part of international cricket may have to give as the IPL is not going away.

"No one in their right mind would turn down the contracts I've been offered."

Cook, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan, the former Ireland international who has yet to nail down a Test place, were the four batsmen awarded central contracts Friday.

Pacemen James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Tim Bresnan were also included, as were off-spinner Graeme Swann and wicket-keeper Matt Prior.

Four other players - batsman Jonathan Bairstow, all-rounder Ravi Bopara, one-day wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter and seamer Graham Onions - were awarded lesser, incremental contracts.

National selector Geoff Miller said: "Contracts are on-going recognition for those players who have regularly been selected for England and have performed consistently, as well as players who we feel could play an important role for England over the next 12 months."

AFP

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First posted September 08, 2012 09:09:38

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Pietersen retires from limited overs cricket

Updated May 31, 2012 21:35:10

England star Kevin Pietersen has retired from all forms of international limited overs cricket, a decision which took the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) by surprise.

Pietersen, who will continue to be available for Test selection, said in a statement he wished to step aside in order to give the next generation of players a chance to bed in before the 2015 World Cup.

"After a great deal of thought and deliberation, I am today announcing my retirement from international one-day cricket," said Pietersen, who turns 32 next month.

"With the intensity of the international schedule and the increasing demands on my body, approaching 32, I think it is the right time to step aside and let the next generation of players come through to gain experience for the ICC World Cup in 2015," added Pietersen, who has scored 4,184 runs at an average of 42 in one-day internationals and averages 38 in international Twenty20 cricket.

Pietersen's decision comes less than four months before England are due to launch the defence of their World Twenty20 crown in September.

The South Africa-born batsman was man of the tournament when England won the title in the West Indies in 2010 and had indicated a willingness to remain part of the Twenty20 squad in Sri Lanka this year.

But ECB rules dictate that centrally-contracted players must make themselves available for all forms of limited-overs cricket.

"I am immensely proud of my achievements in the one-day game, and still wish to be considered for selection for England in Test cricket," Pietersen said.

"For the record, were the selection criteria not in place, I would have readily played for England in the upcoming ICC World Twenty20."

Pietersen's decision was greeted with dismay by ECB managing director Hugh Morris.

"The ECB is disappointed by the timing of Kevin's decision less than four months before we defend our ICC World Twenty20 title," he said.

"Kevin is a world-class player and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his efforts and we look forward to his continued contributions to the Test match side."

AFP

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First posted May 31, 2012 21:30:34

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Ton-up Pietersen helps England to whitewash

Updated February 22, 2012 09:50:34

Kevin Pietersen hit his second successive century to help a resurgent England beat Pakistan by four wickets in the fourth and final one-day international for a 4-0 whitewash.

The 31-year-old right-hander held the innings together during his 153-ball career-best 130 - his ninth one-day hundred - to help England chase down a 238-run target in 49.2 overs at Dubai Stadium.

Pietersen helped England recover from 4 for 68 with a 109-run stand for the fifth wicket with Craig Kieswetter (43) to maintain his team's domination in the series in which they won the first match by 130 runs, second by 20 and the third by nine wickets.

By virtue of this win England overtook Pakistan at number five and pushed their rivals to sixth in the ICC one-day rankings and partially made up for its 3-0 loss in the preceding three-Test series.

Pietersen hit Junaid Khan for a six and took a single in the next over to reach his hundred off 136 balls and finished with 12 fours and two sixes. His previous best of 116 came against South Africa at Centurion in 2005.

Pietersen had lost his opening partner Alastair Cook - who hit back-to-back hundreds and 80 in the first three matches - off the second ball of the innings to paceman Khan for 4.

Jonathan Trott (15), Eoin Morgan (15) and debutant Jos Butler fell in the space of 18 runs before the Pietersen-Kieswetter stand lifted them from 68-4 to 5 for 177.

When Kieswetter was run out, England still needed 61 but Samit Patel (17 not out) in the company of Pietersen brought England within two runs of the win when Pietersen fell to Saeed Ajmal.

Tim Bresnan hit the winning boundary.

"We really had a very good one-day series," said Cook. "It was a great challenge and we stood up and won."

Misbah said Pakistan did show some fight but England was too good.

"We showed improvement from the last game but England and Pietersen were too good for us," said Misbah.

"Credit to England for playing well in this series and we were below par."

Pakistan promised more than what it made after half-centuries by Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali but were pegged back in the final overs with paceman Jade Dernbach taking a career-best 4 for 45.

Shafiq made a 78-ball 65 for his sixth one-day fifty while Ali notched a 89-ball 58 for his first to help lift Pakistan from the early loss of opener Mohammad Hafeez (1) after they elected to bat.

Misbah chipped in with a 52-ball 46 which included one four and a six.

Both teams now play three Twenty20 internationals in Dubai (February 23 and 25) and Abu Dhabi (February 27).

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom, pakistan, united-states

First posted February 22, 2012 07:31:11

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Pietersen switches teams in IPL

Updated January 09, 2012 07:33:48

England's batting star Kevin Pietersen has left Deccan Chargers to play for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League this year, his new franchise said on Sunday.

Pietersen, who turned out for Bangalore Royal Challengers in 2009 and 2010, had signed up with the Hyderabad-based Chargers last year, but could not play for them following hernia surgery.

The exciting right-hander was picked up by the Virender Sehwag-captained Delhi Daredevils during the transfer window for the fifth edition to be played from April 4 to May 27.

"We are pleased to add Kevin to our line-up," said TA Sekhar, the cricket head of GMR Sports, owners of the Delhi Daredevils franchise.

"He brings rich experience and an explosive quality to our batting and can be a more than handy off-spinner as well."

Pietersen, preparing for England's Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates later this month, said he was relishing the opportunity of playing in the same team as Sehwag.

It was not revealed how much Delhi Daredevils paid Deccan Chargers for securing Pietersen's services. The Chargers had forked out $US650,000 ($636,000) for the England star at last year's auction.

It is unlikely that Pietersen will be available for the entire IPL season since England's tour of Sri Lanka ends on April 7 and the first Test against the West Indies starts at Lord's on May 17.

AFP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, india, england

First posted January 09, 2012 07:32:32

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No ton for Pietersen at Rose Bowl

Posted June 19, 2011 06:27:00

Kevin Pietersen missed out on his first Test century in Britain for nearly three years after helping England gain a first-innings lead in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka.

England was 4 for 195 in reply to Sri Lanka's 184, a lead of 11 runs, at stumps on the third day of the Rose Bowl's debut Test.

Pietersen exited for 85, eight minutes before the scheduled close, when he edged a drive to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene to give medium-pacer Thisara Perera a first Test wicket.

The former captain, who has not made a Test century on home soil since reaching three figures against his native South Africa at The Oval in 2008, looked in fine touch while striking 14 fours in his 115-ball innings.

Pietersen had come in with England struggling at 2 for 14, following the early loss of captain Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott.

But together with in-form opener Alastair Cook (55) he put on 106 for the third wicket and then shared a stand of 71 for the fourth with Ian Bell.

At stumps, Bell was 39 not out and nightwatchman James Anderson was yet to get off the mark.

Earlier, Strauss was dismissed cheaply by Chanaka Welegedara for the third time in as many innings.

He managed just three runs before he opened the face against left-arm seamer Welegedara and gave a simple catch to Tharanga Paranavitana at first slip.

Strauss's exit came after he had twice been dismissed by Welegedara, falling lbw for four and nought, in the drawn second Test at Lord's.

But Cook - playing his 66th consecutive Test and so breaking the England record shared by Alan Knott and Ian Botham - drove Welegedara off the back foot for a superb boundary.

Suranga Lakmal though had Trott caught behind for just 4 after angling a ball across the right-hander from around the wicket.

Pietersen got off the mark third ball with a driven four off Lakmal.

And in the final session of a day where more than three hours' play was lost to rain, Pietersen was quickly into his stride with boundaries off Perera and Welegedara.

Cook went to his fifty with a single off seamer Dilhara Fernando, reaching his half-century in 92 balls with seven fours.

In the process the 26-year-old left-handed opener become the first England batsman in 48 years, and only the fourth in all, to score fifties in six successive Test innings.

Next delivery, Pietersen followed him to the landmark in just 56 balls including eight fours.

Cook's previous four Test innings had yielded three hundreds and a 96.

But when he drove confidently at Fernando, the type of shot that has been speeding to the boundary all season, the ball flew to Thilan Samaraweera, who held the gully catch at the second attempt.

Sri Lanka - 9 for 177 overnight - added just seven more runs, with Fernando scoring a Test-best 39 not out with fast bowler Chris Tremlett taking a Test-best six for 48.

England leads this series 1-0 after an innings and 14-run win in the first Test in Cardiff.

Victory at the Rose Bowel will see England go joint second in the ICC Test rankings alongside South Africa with only India, its next opponents, above them.

- AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, sri-lanka, united-kingdom, england

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