'Good signs' from KP - Flower

Team director plays down concerns over England batsman's form

Last updated: 9th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

'Good signs' from KP - Flower

Pietersen: working hard

I don't really agree with that cricketing phase 'one knock away' but I do think all the hard work he is putting in and the thought he is putting into his game will stand him in good stead in the future.

Andy Flower
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England team director Andy Flower is anticipating a major contribution from Kevin Pietersen during the Test series in Bangladesh despite his poor form in the build-up.

Pietersen has scored 69 runs in seven innings on tour and managed efforts of two and 20 in the final warm-up fixture with Bangladesh A, which finished in a draw on Tuesday.

The first Test starts in Chittagong on Friday and Flower is confident Pietersen will come good.

"I think he is frustrated at the moment," Flower said.

"It's a pity he didn't spend some more time in the middle because I thought he looked quite good for his 20.

"It was a positive 20, an attacking 20, and that is the way he likes to play.

Great record

"I thought he showed some good signs. He's a world-class player with a great record behind him and we still expect a lot from him in these Test matches.

"I don't really agree with that cricketing phase 'one knock away' but I do think all the hard work he is putting in and the thought he is putting into his game will stand him in good stead in the future."

Flower's batting line-up for Friday may have resolved itself over the course of the match, with Jonathan Trott looking assured enough to take on the opening mantle and Michael Carberry's 40-run return perhaps not enough to earn a Test debut.

But his bowling ranks have been disrupted by back injuries to Graham Onions and Stuart Broad.

Onions has next to no chance of playing in the series opener but Broad will have one final session to prove his fitness on Wednesday.

"Broad bowled two spells on Tuesday, one of about six overs at lunch then another of about three overs at tea," reported Flower.

"He's improved pretty quickly. Our medical staff and fitness trainer have got him up and running again and he is going to have a proper run out at practice, then we'll see how he responds."

Should Broad not be 100 percent, Flower opened up the possibility of a Test bow for Steven Finn.

Finn in contention

The 20-year-old Middlesex paceman only arrived in the country on Saturday as injury cover but caught the eye against Bangladesh A and may have leapfrogged the likes of Liam Plunkett and Ajmal Shahzad.

"It was quite interesting seeing four seamers operate in quite a competitive environment here," said Flower.

"I wouldn't rule Finn out. He's been added to the party and he's a contender for selection.

"He did very well to get off the plane the afternoon before this game and then rock up and bowl the next day. He's handled himself well for a young man and has been impressive.

"He's bowled with pace on a slow pitch and bowled with accuracy; he's quite a good prospect."

Comments (3)

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Neil Holloway says...

It's about time KP had a rest and went back to Hampshire to learn his trade again. 69 runs in 7 innings, a test average of around 20 in his last 12 or so innings and an ODI average slightly higher in the last 12 or so as well is not good enough at international level. It is clear for all to see that his head is not with it and I think a break will not only help him but help England in the long run. Send him away until the T20 World Cup and we may well get a KP that fires on all cylinders.

Posted 08:28 10th March 2010

Robin Hoskin says...

Here we go again, sticking with a player who needs to go back to county cricket, while the coach and selectors tell us what a great record he has BEHIND him! How many times is this going to keep happening, we have good batsmen waiting in the wings and yet they stick with a player that we keep being told will come good again , isnt that what they kept telling us about captain V

Posted 23:51 9th March 2010

Andy Tyers says...

Pietersons record will be a legacy of what could have been, blessed with so much ability & so little composure. He rarely gets runs when it really, really matters. Shrugs off failures with an arrogant 'that's how I play' comment & will not work hard to hold an innings together ( his or the Teams ) His run of cheap dismissals must lead to his ommission, to get back to County cricket & get his head down. England are a stronger team with out him.

Posted 17:03 9th March 2010
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