Pietersen will remain the prize scalp for the Proteas bowlers - Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806 out early.
Pietersen rang the warning bells after he scored a stupendous unbeaten double century against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lancashire-c806 last week, and given his current form, the star batsman will remain the prized scalp for the Proteas.
Graeme Smiths’s men will look forward to restrict the batsman early as they are chasing history of becoming the first South African side to claim the top Test team in the world, only if they manage to inflict a series loss on England.
“Kevin is a big player for England and if http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 can get the upper hand on him, they can dominate the series,” the former South African captain said.
Pollock believes that the latest cricketing row involving the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Surrey-c851 player might just help him concentrate more on Test matches, adding that an inform Pietersen could indeed become a worrisome prospect for the visitors.
“I think Kevin will be pretty motivated – just as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 now plays only Test cricket at international level, and he can channel all his energy into that, KP will have a point to prove.”
Pietersen had announced his retirement from One-day International cricket to prolong his Test and T20I career, but his current England contract makes the two shorter formats (ODI and T20I) indivisible, which left him only with Test cricket or the Indian
Premier League (IPL) to play all year long.
Later, the England middle-order batsman reconsidered his retirement decision and hinted at making a conditional comeback into the ODI fold, but ECB had flatly refused to entertain any such offers from the former captain.
The South African believes that now when the 32-year-old is left with only one option to play for England, he will try to play his best cricket for his country, and taking his wicket should be the first priority of the visitors.
“He has decided to go with Test cricket as his only format with England, so he will be keen to make an impression. That will put extra pressure on him because he only has Tests to show what he can do,” the former Proteas pace man said.
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