Kevin Pietersen tells Nasser Hussain about his form, frustrations and future in an exclusive interview.
'Batting on the sub-continent is the last piece of the jigsaw...'
Why does Kevin Pietersen polarise public opinion and how big a problem does he have against left-arm spin?
Those were just two of the questions Nasser Hussain asked England's number four in a frank interview for Sky Sports.
Click on the video above to watch the full interview, which includes Pietersen's views on:
- his own form and technique and what changes he must make before England's tours to Sri Lanka and India
- how big an impact the Decision Review System is having on batsman in the modern game
- whether he still wants to play 50-over cricket and - looking ahead to the next World Cup - if he wants to open the batting in the one-day game
- why he has no regrets about the way he plays and how he intends to carry on batting in the way he believes is best
Nass met up with Pietersen in Dubai ahead of the third Test and started off by asking him why England's batting line-up, which has been so prolific in the last couple of years, has already lost the current series against Pakistan.
"The mystery of Ajmal is something that has shocked us a little bit and then the way that conditions have played in terms of how the ball skidded that first morning in Dubai and how well they [Pakistan] have actually bowled," said Pietersen. "They've bowled wicket-to-wicket, they've brought DRS into the game.
"It's spin bowling that we haven't faced in the last couple of years - I should qualify that and say it's real good spin bowling that we haven't faced in the last few years that has surprised us. It's not really the spin, it's the speed at which it has spun that has surprised us occasionally and at which it hasn't spun. That's been the very big difference.
"We are not the best players of spin in the sub-continent - in our conditions and in South Africa, in Australia and in the Caribbean where the wickets are totally different I think our guys are absolutely fine but if you look at the great players of spin in the sub-continent quite a few of us don't really play like them.
"So taking analysis on board and having a look at how they play in the sub-continent, you then take that guy and bring him to England - can he face Matthew Hoggard or can he face James Anderson? No he can't. So we've also got to look on the flip-side and say when people come to England they struggle with our swing bowlers.
"We thought the biggest problem out here would be the 20 wickets; we got 20 wickets in Abu Dhabi. The last piece to the jigsaw puzzle for this team will probably be batting in the sub-continent."
