Andy Flower Satisfied with Pietersen’s Plunging ODI Performance
Man of the tournament of 2010 World T20, Kevin Pietersen, is lacking form these days. Kevin Pietersen, despite his below par returns in the NatWest series against Australia gets the back of Coach Andy Flower. Pietersen has started vibrantly in number of matches but failed to convert the brilliant start into a significant score. His dismissal for 8 in the fourth game against Australia at The Oval was his 16th innings without a One Day fifty. His last ODI fifty came back in November 2008.
After recovering from the chronic Achilles injury, Pietersen had a troubled period in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757. All this resulted in ending his last year’s Ashes series just after two matches. Pietersen came back into form during the Bangladesh tour in March and was on fire during the World T20 in Caribbean, in May. He got the Man of the Tournament title for his match winning performances during the tournament. However, his home season against the World Champions has been plagued with cameos. Despite England’s astounding victories against the Ashes rival, Australia, Pietersen’s role in the batting unit remains vital.
The coach has shown satisfaction over his performance saying that he seems to be in best form. "I think he actually looks in superb form," said Flower. "His balance is excellent. He is hitting balls through the off side as well as I have ever seen him. I would not so much look at 16 innings [without an ODI 50]. He has another chance to find the balance in decision-making which allows him to stay at the crease long enough for a big score.”
The coach further added that Pietersen is always very ambitious to get a big score for England. Flower said that he has got a game-changing and a match-winning attitude. He was hopeful that Lord's will be an attractive stage for Pietersen and would have a great innings over there. Flower played down the concerns over his form as he said that coming back into form is not a matter of him, all that is required from him is that he should be able to stay at the crease for longer period.
Pietersen, who celebrated his 30th birthday just five days back (27th June), had 2005 as the most triumphant season for KP. He got the ICC One-Day Player of the Year as well as Emerging Player of the Year in 2005. Pietersen was also named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers in 2005 for his role in the successful Ashes series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746. He, along with his other teammates, was adorned in the 2006 New Year Honours list, getting the MBE for his role in the victorious Ashes. He also made the ICC World XI in the ICC Super Series 2005 against Kangaroos.
Eoin Morgan is playing the linchpin role of England's one-day batting that had specifically been Pietersen’s during the T20 world cup. Morgan - with an unbeaten innings of 103, 52, 27 and 47 - is the leading run-scorer of the current NatWest series. Prolific performance of Morgan makes him a best choice for the upcoming series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 that kicks off at the end of this month followed by the Ashes in November.
However it seems as if Morgan will have to wait for his turn as Paul Collingwood, who did not make squad against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391, is all set to make a comeback to the five-dayers.
The coach of English side Andy Flower said, "I personally don't feel any pressure in trying to get him great exposure at Test level, before he has forced his way into the side or until - through someone else's misfortune, because of injury - he gets another chance.”
Pietersen has got the last chance to show his prolific performance against Ashes rivals Australia in the last ODI on Saturday.
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