Ashes 2013: 5th Test, Day 3 - Heroes of the Day

Kevin Pietersen (50 runs off 133 balls – 4 fours)

Kevin Pietersen of England bats during day three of the 5th Investec Ashes Test match between England and Australia at the Kia Oval on August 23, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

The maverick batsman scored a steady half-century coming in at No. 4 after Root’s dismissal. With fellow South African-born Trott, KP put on 58 for the third wicket, scoring his runs at a very slow pace. He also added 41 with the in-form Ian Bell in 20.2 overs.

The right-hander hit four boundaries in all – getting off the mark with a blistering off-drive off Starc, before charging down the track to loft leg-spinner Steven Smith over his head into the gap between long -on and long-off. He then pulled Ryan Harris to the fine-leg fence before an attempted flick off Lyon resulted in four byes.

Pietersen reached his 32nd Test fifty with a bottom edge off Faulkner – an uncharacteristically subdued innings by his standards. Almost immediately after, he edged Starc to Watson, thus becoming the fourth England batsman to fall during the day.