KP hopes century brings turnaround
Batsman Kevin Pietersen has insisted Saturday's outstanding century will be rendered redundant, if England don't manage to improve on a troubling situation on day four of the third Ashes Test.
Batsman Kevin Pietersen has insisted Saturday's outstanding century will be rendered redundant, if England don't manage to improve on a troubling situation on day four of the third Ashes Test.
Pietersen's 113 carried the total to 294 for seven in response to Australia's 527 for seven declared on day three in Manchester. The hosts, however, remain 33 runs shy of avoiding a potential follow-on.
The right-handed Pietersen's ton weighed in as the 23rd of his career, passing the great Wally Hammond, Colin Cowdrey and Geofftey Boycott to become the nation's second most prolific Test centurion after captain Alastair Cook.
"Scoring a Test century is probably one of the best feelings you can have as a cricketer. But it's only a better feeling if it actually contributes something for this team," said Pietersen.
"Personal achievements are one thing but this is a team game and if this ton gets us a draw or gets us a victory at some stage on day five then it'll mean a lot more.
"The runs are runs. Today's gone, tomorrow's another day, you start on nought and I just want – and the team would like – Matt Prior and Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann and James Anderson to go and dig in and I think we can do that.
"I know we're in a spot of bother still but we're 30-odd behind and if we can bat, just avoid that follow-on and get ourselves back into this game, anything can happen in this fixture still."
The South African-born talisman conceded the home bowlers will be presented with a stiff task by a "true" Old Trafford pitch, which has brought the batsmen considerable more ease than those on offer in the openin fixtures of this five-match series.
"You've got to assess the wicket, not the situation. You can't decide what kind of shot you're going to play before you play it," he added.
"It wasn't the quickest of wickets but it was a lot more true than Lord's and a lot more true than Trent Bridge. It was really nice to bat on. It's certainly still a good enough wicket to bat on and score runs."
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