Pietersen content with sticking to basics – Cricket News Update
Following his game changing knock in the ongoing first Test at http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806 attributed his new-found success to the hard work he put in during training, along with backing himself against the inform Indian spinners.
After their first Test debacles, the tourists entered the subsequent clash with a cloud hanging over their ability to deal with the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/PP-Ojha-c2198, both of whom caused considerable havoc at Ahmedabad.
However, their troubles against spin were duly put to rest by Pietersen ,who went onto amass a stupendous 186 on day 3 to put his side firmly in control of the proceedings. Along with his inform skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Cook-c1026, he added a crucial 206 for the third-wicket where he confidently weathered out the threat of the Indian spinners.
The star batsman looked in complete control throughout his knock, and the hallmark of his innings was his defensive technique which had come under considerable scrutiny at Ahmedabad. In each inning of that Test, he struggled to deal with the left-arm spin of Ojha, who breached his defences on both occasions.
Nonetheless, the 32-year-old swiftly rectified his mistakes and looked much assured in the ongoing Test, easily balancing aggression and patience to notch up a ton, which saw his side take a precious first innings lead of 86. As it stood, that lead proved decisive after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GP-Swann-c1501 combined to halt the Indians on 117 for 7 at the close of play.
"I wasn't playing well at all in Ahmedabad. I didn't trust my defence as much as I trusted my defence in this Test match and as a batter if you don't trust your defence you try too many things, you try to force the issue.
"So I went and did a lot of hard work as I always do and luckily it had paid off. I like to keep things simple. I just didn't go into that Test match trusting my defence. I don't think the warm-up matches going into that Test match tested my defence. It is just about keeping things simple and doing the basics right."
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