PIETERSEN HAPPY WITH ICC TROPHY DECISION
Kevin Pietersen, the England cricket captain, is happy that the ICC Champions Trophy has been postponed until next year, but has urged his team-mates to concentrate on the second One-Day-International against South Africa at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
England had been due to play in the eight-team tournament in Pakistan next month, but the International Cricket Council announced on Sunday that the competition would not take place due to security fears.
ICC Presedent David Morgan said: "There was unanimity to postpone the event until October next year. Unfortunately five of the participating nations found it impossible to send their teams to Pakistan because of safety and security concerns."
Pietersen, 28, had voiced his opinions on the matter, but has now turned his attention to going 2-0 up in the five-match series against the world number twos. On Friday the South African-born batsman knocked a man-of-the-match unbeaten 90 as England inflicted defeat on the tourists, who had won their last nine ODIs.
"This is a huge decision and cricket can now take priority again," Pietersen said of the ICC's announcement. "All the players I know personally from other countries have expressed their concerns in terms of safety and security.
"What I said to the team was to put it to the back of our minds because the most important thing for us is the one-day series with South Africa, and that means standing up to be counted on Tuesday."
Andrew Flintoff, who had a 158-run partnership with Pietersen in the 20-run victory at Headingley Carnegie, is hopeful that he can continue his form with the bat in Nottingham. His 78 was only his second fifty in 31 visits to the crease.
"I have always been confident I can again play the type of cricket I did in that 2005 Ashes series," said the 30-year-old. "The bowling was going all right but I needed to improve things in my batting.
"I haven't got to fifty for a while, so it was nice to stick my bat up. Kevin knows I've worked hard on my batting. He was just as pleased as I was. He wants me to play my natural game in the way in which he's seen me play and knows I can do. I felt I did that and I feel very comfortable at No.5.
"My technique has always been pretty sound, I just needed to change one or two things and work hard with the coaches. But I felt really good out there and I'm getting very close to where I want to be."
On No.4 Pietersen, Flintoff added: "It's a new beginning with KP at the front - he is confident, single-minded and determined. He puts belief in the players. Hopefully we can play well together and for Kevin."
Kevin Pietersen, the England cricket captain, is happy that the ICC Champions Trophy has been postponed until next year, but has urged his team-mates to concentrate on the second One-Day-International against South Africa at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
England had been due to play in the eight-team tournament in Pakistan next month, but the International Cricket Council announced on Sunday that the competition would not take place due to security fears.
ICC Presedent David Morgan said: "There was unanimity to postpone the event until October next year. Unfortunately five of the participating nations found it impossible to send their teams to Pakistan because of safety and security concerns."
Pietersen, 28, had voiced his opinions on the matter, but has now turned his attention to going 2-0 up in the five-match series against the world number twos. On Friday the South African-born batsman knocked a man-of-the-match unbeaten 90 as England inflicted defeat on the tourists, who had won their last nine ODIs.
"This is a huge decision and cricket can now take priority again," Pietersen said of the ICC's announcement. "All the players I know personally from other countries have expressed their concerns in terms of safety and security.
"What I said to the team was to put it to the back of our minds because the most important thing for us is the one-day series with South Africa, and that means standing up to be counted on Tuesday."
Andrew Flintoff, who had a 158-run partnership with Pietersen in the 20-run victory at Headingley Carnegie, is hopeful that he can continue his form with the bat in Nottingham. His 78 was only his second fifty in 31 visits to the crease.
"I have always been confident I can again play the type of cricket I did in that 2005 Ashes series," said the 30-year-old. "The bowling was going all right but I needed to improve things in my batting.
"I haven't got to fifty for a while, so it was nice to stick my bat up. Kevin knows I've worked hard on my batting. He was just as pleased as I was. He wants me to play my natural game in the way in which he's seen me play and knows I can do. I felt I did that and I feel very comfortable at No.5.
"My technique has always been pretty sound, I just needed to change one or two things and work hard with the coaches. But I felt really good out there and I'm getting very close to where I want to be."
On No.4 Pietersen, Flintoff added: "It's a new beginning with KP at the front - he is confident, single-minded and determined. He puts belief in the players. Hopefully we can play well together and for Kevin."
Labels: Andrew Flintoff, cricket, England, ICC Champions Trophy, Kevin Pietersen
