Remain hopeful of batting slots becoming available for Ashes: Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen during a training session for Surrey

England discard Kevin Pietersen has re-asserted that he remains available for a recall to the national team and has talked about possible slots opening up for the Ashes series in the batting order for him to be accommodated. Australian bowlers had previously said that they would not be surprised if Pietersen was recalled to the team for the prestigious series starting from July 8.

Pietersen said, “There is some very exciting talent in this England team, but I believe batting slots could become available against Australia this summer. I want to be clear, I am not retiring from England. I still believe I can bat in that team and win games of cricket for England. And we have seen recently how fragile that batting order can be.

“I am averaging 156.33 in first class cricket. I have proved I can still bat against the red ball. I just know I have to carry on batting. I love it and while that is the case I will keep going. At the end of the day I do not control the other nonsense. All I control is what I do with my bat.”

Ballance’s technique not up to international standards: Pietersen

Pietersen lauded the batting of Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Ben Stokes but pointed out Gary Ballance as a problem spot in the England team.

“As I have said from the beginning, not picking Stokes for the World Cup was a mistake, and I hope he is now backed by Trevor Bayliss, who I hear is a very good coach.

“Gary Ballance’s technique is not quite up to international standard. His technique suggests he is scared of the short ball. You cannot bat in England with your right foot, as a left-hander, behind the popping crease. You have to go towards the ball with your feet and head. The technique is not doing him any favours and I don’t know why nobody has told him before.”

Captain Alastair Cook, who was rumoured to have threatened to walk out in the eventuality of Pietersen’s recall, had a return to form in the New Zealand series – becoming England’s highest scorer and the youngest player to reach 9000 runs in the course of the two Tests.

Pietersen said, “Alastair Cook is a fantastic batter. You do not get 9,000 runs at the age of 30 if you are a clown and if England are to stand half a chance against Australia he has to bat really well. It is good to see him back to his best. Now he knows where his off stump is and there are thousands of runs left in him if his back holds up and he wants to carry on.

Australia might finish Moeen Ali off: Pietersen

Pietersen also criticised ECB’s persistence with using Moeen Ali as frontline spinner, suggesting Adil Rashid as the man who the management could have gone to.

“I fear Australia could finish Moeen Ali off if he is used as our spin attack. They finished off Graeme Swann on the last Ashes tour and James Tredwell in the one-day series that followed. With the ball, Moeen Ali is nowhere near the standard of those two so he will struggle.

“The Aussies will play in a similar aggressive vein like New Zealand and so for England to get anywhere close they need to match fire with fire because that is what we did in 2005.”