Andy Flower acknowledges Kevin Pietersen’s value – Cricket News Update
Following the team’s emphatic triumph on Indian soil, England’s Head Coach, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806 following his stellar contribution with the bat during the second Test of the recently concluded four-match series.
"In that Test (Mumbai) he showed real skill in Indian conditions on a pitch that turned on the first day," Flower was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph."For him to score as quickly as he did there and put such pressure on the opposition bowlers really helped us turn the series around," Flower added.
The Zimbabwean tactician further hailed Pietersen’s impact in the dressing room, after his much talked about fall out with some of his teammates. The swashbuckling batsman was a last-minute pick for the Poms after patching up his differences with the backroom staff, along with members of the squad, and his inclusion handsomely paid dividends against the Indians.
After a poor outing during the opening loss at Ahmedabad, where he was twice dismissed by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Cook-c1026.
His off-field behaviour has been commendable, where he has shown eagerness to stay away from controversy, while further helping the younger players by sharing his experience of playing on sub-continental tracks.
That eventually aided the team in achieving a first Test series win in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 after a long wait of 28 years. With differences sorted out and victory in the bag, Flower further shed light on Pietersen’s contract saga by adding that the player will be awarded a full-time deal after initially signing on a temporary four-month basis.
"The contract won't be a problem, Kevin has been excellent in every way," Flower said. "We don't always get on with people all the time, in any walk of life, and everyone has made an effort to make it work. It's been really good fun and he should be very proud of the way he's operated out here both as an individual and as a player," the former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 captain added.
Pietersen will travel back to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 before returning for the second leg of the tour, which includes a five-match ODI series.
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