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Pietersen's high five

Kevin Pietersen of England leaves the field after his innings of 158 during day five of the Fifth npower Ashes Test between England and Australia played at The Brit Oval on September 12, 2005 in London, United Kingdom  (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
Image: Kevin Pietersen: Ashes-clinching innings at The Oval in 2005

Ahead of Kevin Pietersen winning his 100th Test cap in Brisbane, we pick out five of his best Test innings.

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We pick out some of England batsman's finest innings

Kevin Pietersen is set to play his 100th Test for England in the Ashes opener at Brisbane, starting on Thursday. Pietersen will be the 10th England player and 56th from all countries to reach a century of caps. Ahead of the milestone moment, we recall five of his best Test innings.

The Oval, v Australia, September 2005 - 158, match drawn

The only starting point, and the moment when Pietersen won over (most of) his adopted nation. Just six runs separated the teams, and the series, on first innings and at 126 for five it seemed England's dream of overdue Ashes success might just unravel again. Pietersen had other ideas. He needed some luck along the way, but was a force of nature that day against a world-class and highly experienced attack.

Lord's, v India, July 2011 - 202 not out, England won by 196 runs

The 2,000th Test match was thought sure to be Sachin Tendulkar's last at Lord's, and in many minds was supposed to be all about the Little Master. Pietersen's first hundred runs were scratchy, the rest sublime. Collaterally, they were the difference between the two sides in a match which set the tone for a 4-0 series success as England dethroned India to go to the top of the world rankings for the first time.

Colombo, v Sri Lanka, April 2012 - 151, England won by eight wickets

Pietersen had begun his most turbulent year with a miserable run of scores, along with most of his team-mates, in a 3-0 drubbing against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. Here, in searing and stamina-sapping heat, he dominated the Sri Lankans on their home turf to lead England to a series-levelling and face-saving victory.

Headingley, v South Africa, August 2012 - 149, match drawn

The scene of Pietersen's most outrageous extremes. In the middle, he was breathtaking as he took apart Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel to help give England fleeting hope of victory in a rain-affected match against the world's new best team. Afterwards, he held a press conference in which - intent apparently on saying nothing - he did the opposite, and kickstarted a crisis of man-management for England.

Mumbai, v India, November 2012 - 186, England won by 10 wickets

The best of the lot, surely. England's hopes of a first series win in India since the mid-1980s appeared forlorn after chastening defeat in Ahmedabad. But on a spinners' paradise at the Wankhede Stadium - James Anderson's wicket with the second ball of the match was the only success for the seamers - Pietersen's batting bordered on the supernatural. He dominated a stand of 206 with fellow centurion Alastair Cook as England levelled the score at 1-1 and took the momentum on for another victory in Kolkata and eventual 2-1 success.

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