KP - We need centuries

Pietersen urges batsmen to build on strong starts after Kanpur defeat

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 20th November 2008

Kevin Pietersen

Pietersen: Frustrated

We had a really good chance of finishing on top - some of our batters got in but it would have been nice to see them get a hundred.

Kevin Pietersen
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Captain Kevin Pietersen believes England's inability to convert good scores into hundreds is to blame for their poor start to the one-day series against India.

Defeats in Rajkot, Indore and the most recent 16-run Duckworth-Lewis loss in Kanpur have seen Pietersen's men staring a potential whitewash series battering straight in the eye.

At 3-0 down with four ODIs to play, England now turn their attention to Bangalore - desperate to register a first win of the series.

Make-shift opener Ravi Bopara (60) and partner Ian Bell (46) both made solid starts but failed to convert into what would have been England's first centuries of the seven-match series.

And Pietersen, who made just 13 in Kanpur, believes triple figure individual scores are key to the tourists chances of getting back in the series.

Farcical

Speaking to Sky Sports 1, Pietersen said: "We've got to get hundreds out here. I think England have only ever scored six or nine hundreds in one day internationals in India and that's not good enough.

"We need to score a lot more hundreds out here to make it more competitive.

"We had a really good chance of finishing on top - some of our batters got in but it would have been nice to see them get a hundred.

"I know India have got two hundreds this series and we haven't got a hundred so it would be nice for one of our batters to get a big, big score when they get themselves in."

India inflicted a third consecutive defeat on England in somewhat farcical circumstances as bad light stopped play nine overs before the scheduled finish.

Improve

Pietersen, who was seen remonstrating with umpires Amiesh Saheba and Russell Tiffin after the game, admitted his frustration with the outcome but praised the way his players fought throughout the game.

"Yes it was frustrating, it would have been nice to get a full game in today but weather has it that we didn't, and it is unfortunate to be on the losing side again," said Pietersen.

"At the end of the day the umpires made a decision and that's the way it is - unfortunately we came out at the bottom again today.

"There are definitely areas we can improve on but we are definitely getting better and the games are getting closer.

"The boys came in, they fought hard and they showed aggression - the biggest thing about playing for England is playing hard and playing for the badge and today we had a really good go at it."