The Ashes are fast approaching and England’s hopes of glory Down Under will be boosted if star batsman Kevin Pietersen can regain top form against the Australians.
The powerful right-hander has enjoyed success against the Baggy Greens in the past and will be desperate to return to centre stage, having struggled for form and confidence since his ill-fated spell as England captain.
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Pietersen arrived on the Test match scene at the beginning of the 2005 Ashes series in England, having made a scintillating start to his international career in limited-overs action.
His Test bow came at Lord’s and he showed his class and confidence in making a half-century in both innings, despite England crashing to a 239-run defeat.
The South African-born ace followed that up with an important 71 in the first innings of the second Test at Edgbaston, which England won in dramatic fashion by a mere two runs.
Pietersen’s form took a dip in the next two games, as England took a 2-1 lead in the series with another win at Trent Bridge, but he was at his imperious best to ensure a memorable Ashes triumph with a big century at The Oval.
With England in danger of collapse in their second innings, KP smashed a majestic 158 which ensured that the match was drawn and the little urn was England’s for the first time in nearly two decades.
When England defended the Ashes Down Under in 2006-07, Pietersen again impressed despite the tourists enduring a 5-0 whitewash.
A fine 92 in the first Test in Brisbane was followed by 158 in the second Test in Adelaide which England contrived to lose despite holding the upper hand for much of the game.
Pietersen passed 50 in both innings of the Perth Test before his form tailed off a little as England fell apart in the final two games, but he would end the series with nearly 500 runs to his name at an average in excess of 54.
When England regained the Ashes last year, Pietersen was forced to watch on for much of the time after suffering a serious Achilles injury which would keep him out of action for a lengthy period.
However, he did make 69 in the first innings of the first Test in Cardiff which England somehow drew and then contributed 32 and 44 as England won at Lord’s to level the series.
Overall Pietersen averages 50.72 against the old enemy and will need to keep that figure intact if England are to win Down Under for the first time since 1986-87.
