History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

STRAUSS: I WILL MAKE HARMISON FIRE

Andrew Strauss has marked Steve Harmison as England’s main weapon of attack and is hopeful that the Durham quick can reproduce his career-best haul of 7-12 in the Caribbean once again.

The 30-year-old has been dogged by poor form since achieving those figures in the first Test against the West Indies in Jamaica almost five years ago. But Strauss, the new England captain, believes that Harmison can propel his country to victory – not only in the upcoming Test series, but also in the summer’s highly-anticipated Ashes clash on home soil.

“If Steve Harmison is bowling well and at 90mph, he's the first name on pretty much any team sheet in the world,” said the Middlesex opener before his team flew out to the Caribbean on Wedsnesday morning.

“Clearly he's as frustrated as anyone that he hasn't been able to do that as consistently as he'd like. I've spoken to him a couple of times since we've come back from India [following former captain, Kevin Pietersen’s resignation] and he has a clear understanding of where he needs to go to bowl consistently at that sort of pace.

“I'm happy with what he's said to me in terms of how he's going to get there. I'm confident. He's a very important player for us in terms of the threat that he gives us on the pitch.

“We all feel this could be a really big tour for him and looking forward to the Ashes if he can hit his straps on this tour we're in a good position.”

Strauss added that Pietersen, shorn of his responsibilities as skipper, would continue to be a key figure. “He is going to play a very big role,” he added of the Hampshire batsman, “but he has had a lot on his plate recently and it’s very important that he has got the ability to concentrate on his batting and get the runs that we all know he can.”

Labels: Andrew Strauss, England, Kevin Pietersen, Steve Harmison, West Indies

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:53 pm | Permalink | Comments

KALLIS WANTS TO HALT KP'S DOMINANCE

South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis has vowed to wipe the grin off Kevin Pietersen's face by thrashing England at Trent Bridge in the second one-day international on Tuesday afternoon.

Man-of-the-match Pietersen made it two wins out of two as England Test and ODI captain as he smashed an unbeaten 90 at Headingley Carnegie last Friday to help his team to a 1-0 lead in the five-game series.

The 20-run victory was the Proteas' first one-day defeat in 10 games - they are second in the world rankings behind Australia. And Kallis is determined to stop Pietersen's winning run.

The 32-year-old, who top scored for the tourists in Leeds with 52, said of Friday's defeat: "It was probably the worst one-day international we have played in two years.

"England certainly played well but we were more disappointed in our performance. We pride ourselves on our performance. The one we put in the other night was not up to scratch and we feel we are a lot better side than that.

"We've got to improve in all departments. England probably scored 25 runs too many and from a batting point of view we lost wickets at key moments.

"And certainly we weren't up to standard in the field. There is a lot of work to be done in all three departments.

"We've had a couple of days now to get out, practice and chat about it. Hopefully we can come out and turn the tables."

On Pietersen's 158-run partnership with Andrew Flintoff, who clobbered 78, Kallis added: "They played well - they are world class players and if you allow them to play like that then they can take the game away from you.

"So we have to make sure we bowl well and don't allow players like that to get in. Kevin has obviously started off well as England captain and it is not up to us to turn that around and put a halt to it."

Pietersen is able to call upon Durham all-rounder and former ODI skipper Paul Collingwood, who returns to the one-day setup after serving a suspension of four games for England's slow over rate against New Zealand in July.

The 32-year-old, who earlier this month relinquished his one-day captaincy on the same day that Michael Vaughan resigned as Test skipper, warned Pietersen that there will be darker days ahead.

Collingwood took over from Vaughan as ODI captain in June 2007, following England's poor showing in the World Cup, but stepped down on the grounds that he could not concentrate on his own game.

"I'm back in the ranks and now and very much looking forward to it," he said. "It's nice coming back into the ranks with the opportunity just to concentrate on your own job.

"I know that sounds selfish but I can be a leader in the ranks anyway by setting the example.

"We have had a good start to the series, going 1-0 up. But we will put our feet on the ground and hopefully put a similar performance in."

Collingwood also had advice for 28-year-old Pietersen, who currently boasts a Test batting average of 50 and ODI average of 49.

He added: "Kevin's had a fantastic start and already he has made some really good decisions.

"Hopefully England will go from strength to strength but he'll learn all the time. There will be difficult times ahead, but hopefully not for a while yet.

"I found the added responsibility of captaincy very draining. I was always thinking about decisions and game situations.

"It was taking my form away in Test cricket and that was the last thing I wanted. I had grown up as a little kid wanting to play Test cricket.

"But with the amount of energy that it was taking away from me, I had to make a decision with the captaincy. I didn't want to lose my Test spot. Now I feel a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

"We'll see how the captaincy affects KP's batting. It didn't seem to the other day and hopefully it will continue in that manner. He has done a great job so far."

Meanwhile, England have been hit by an injury blow after left-arm seam bowler Ryan Sidebottom was ruled out of the remainder of the one-day series due to troublesome hip and groin injuries.

Labels: cricket, Jacques Kallis, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, South Africa

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:18 pm | Permalink | Comments

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."

Labels: Andrew Flintoff, cricket, England, ICC Champions Trophy, Kevin Pietersen

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 5:22 pm | Permalink | Comments

BELL: KP NOT NUTS

Ian Bell has backed new captain Kevin Pietersen to help England emulate the Ashes glory of 2005 when the Australians tour next summer.

Swashbuckling batsman Pietersen was named as Michael Vaughan's successor as skipper for the final Test against South Africa at the Oval. England won the match on Monday - their only victory of the series - and KP impressed in the field and at the crease.

After the six-wicket win, and despite England losing the series 2-1, KP claimed that England could reclaim the Ashes urn next year.

And Warwickshire batsman Bell says the South African-born Pietersen is the right man to lead England.

The 26-year-old No3, who was England's second highest scorer behind Pietersen in the South Africa series, said: "I think KP is dead right - we can beat the Australians next year.

"I think that we have the ability in the dressing room to regain the Ashes urn, without a doubt. You only have to look at the players we have in the team - there is certainly enough there to win the Ashes again.

"We have the ability to do it but we have to put that together with consistency. We have to perform how we know we can a lot more regularly.

"We just need to make sure that we produce the cricket that we did at the Oval in the last Test against South Africa on a much more consistent basis.

"One thing we haven't done for the last 12 months is produce that standard of cricket in back-to-back games. We have done the business occasionally, in one-off matches, then put in a couple of poor performances."

Bell dismissed claims that the Oval Test was a dead rubber match, with the Proteas having already sewn up the series, and believes that England should take great confidence from the win.

He continued: "Every time you play a Test match for your country you have pride. I'm sure the South African guys were trying to win - everyone does as soon as you put that shirt on.

"It was a full Test match and it was important that we improved. As a player you never know when your last Test match is. Everyone was dying to play in that game and it was great that the result went our way."

Bell, who has played 43 Tests and has an average of more than 42, praised Pietersen, adding: "KP had a great week - not just with the captaincy but with the bat too. That is exactly what you need in a leader.

"As a team everyone is behind him and I hope we can move forward and start putting in good, consistent performances more regularly now."

In the new ICC Test rankings, which were published on Tuesday, England dropped one place to fifth in the world, having lost to second-placed South Africa. Sri Lanka moved up to fourth after beating India, who remain third.

England spin king Monty Panesar, who had the best bowling average of the series - 13 wickets at 31.69 - moved into the world's top 10 for the first time.

The 26-year-old is now equal with Indian legend Anil Kumble. Jimmy Anderson also moved up to a career-best 15th, while Ryan Sidebottom dropped a place to sixth.

Labels: England, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Monty Panesar, South Africa

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 5:35 pm | Permalink | Comments