Strauss: KP?will come good
CAPTAIN Andrew Strauss believes Kevin Pietersen can rediscover his best form in the forthcoming Test series with Pakistan.
Pietersen has suffered a dismal run of form with the bat in recent months, failing to score a half-century in his last 17 one-day internationals.
But Strauss believes the 30-year-old, inset, who has just become a father for the first time, is due a big score and is backing him to lead the England batting attack in the four-match series.
“Kevin has just turned 30 but he has got a lot of cricket left in him,” Strauss said. “He has had a tough time, there is no doubt about that.
“He has not scored as many runs as he has done in the past. But he is a high-quality cricketer and he will come back and play match-winning innings for us.
“He has had a bit of a break and that has been well received. A new addition to the family changes your priorities a bit and you need to get your life in order. I think he will come out and play really well against Pakistan.
“Kevin wants to be a great cricketer and he knows the way to do that is by scoring runs consistently and putting in match-winning performances and I have no worries that he will do that.”
l Meanwhile, England spinner Graeme Swann has been charged with drink driving.
Swann was stopped in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham on 2 April and has will appear before the city’s magistrates on 16 August – two days before the third Test against Pakistan at The Oval.