http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625’s top Test batsmen – Cricket News Update
England batsman Kevin Pietersen has worked his way back into the International Cricket Council’s list of top Ten Test batsmen, on which he is currently ranked at number 10.
The 32-year-old, who had previously been at number 17, climbed back into the top ten following an impressive performance during the second Test of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749’s ongoing 3-match series against the visiting South African team.
Pietersen scored a massive 149 during the team’s first innings – the only England batsman to reach triple digits during the Test match, played at Headingley in Leeds from August 2 to 6. The Poms managed to post a first innings total of 425, but the match
did not reach a satisfactory conclusion, ending in a draw. Pietersen, however, went on to win the Player of the Match award for his impressive knock.
The third and final Test, due to be played at Lord’s in London from August 16 to 20, poses a do-or-die situation for England. While they have managed to upset Australia’s reign at the top of the ODI team rankings, their status as the world’s number one Test
team hangs by a thread, with the Proteas well-poised to upset them should they manage to win the series.
Pietersen, a veteran of 88 Tests, with 7076 runs to his credit, emerges as a key figure who can aid the Poms in retaining their top spot. However, the right-hander is currently at loggerheads with the England and Wales Cricket Board, and has threatened to
retire from Test cricket altogether if his concerns are not taken into account.
The top-order batsman first caused a furore after announcing his retirement from international limited-overs cricket earlier this year, claiming the team’s busy schedule was the reason behind his decision. A known T20 specialist, his decision to retire months
before England defend their World T20 title at the ICC World T20 in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 this September, caused a fair amount of disturbance in the England cricket management and team. He put in a request to be allowed to play T20s, while retiring from ODIs but the ECB
did not entertain the request.
Pietersen has sparked controversy yet again, after holding a press conference following the second Test against the Proteas in Leeds, during which he claimed that there were deep fissures within the ECB and the team, in addition to pointing at “obstacles”
which needed to be resolved before he could contemplate playing for the team again. He also hinted at a lack of harmony in the dressing room.
"I can't give any assurances that the next Test won't be my last," said Pietersen. "I'd like to carry on but there are obstacles that need to be worked out. There are other points I'm trying to sort out in the dressing room."
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