KP - It's a man's game

England batsman insists players need to stand up for themselves

Last updated: 18th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

KP - It's a man's game

Pietersen: 'It's a man's game'

We haven't crossed the line and I think they boys have been fantastic in everything they've done

Kevin Pietersen on England's on-field behaviour
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Kevin Pietersen insists England did not cross the line with their behaviour in the first Test against Bangladesh.

Both Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad have apologised for incidents during the tourists' convincing 181-run win in the series opener.

Off-spinner Swann swore at Junaid Siddique after dismissing the batsman for 106 in the home side's second innings, while seamer Broad failed to look at the umpire when appealing for a successful lbw shout against Abdur Razzak.

However Pietersen is adamant that England must continue to stand up for themselves, declaring that Test cricket is a "man's game".

Nonsense

"It's a man's game this, it's not a game for girls - especially when you're playing Test match cricket," he told Sky Sports.

"You go to the Ashes, I was christened in international cricket and believe me I got a lot worse in my first Ashes series against those Australians than anything we've chucked at the Bangladeshis out here.

"So I'd say it's an absolute load of nonsense they way the boys have been made out to be because I think they've been brilliant.

"We haven't crossed the line and I think they boys have been fantastic in everything they've done.

"I think it's been brilliant and we need more of that, we need to stand up for ourselves and toughen up and not just be a walk-over in any conditions and this stands us in good stead for the winter next year."

England will be looking to complete a series sweep with victory in the second match in Dakar, which gets underway on Saturday.

From a personal point of view, Pietersen is hoping he can continue to rediscover his best form with the bat having made 99 and 32 in Chittagong.

"On a personal level it's been a case of getting back into playing cricket gain after a pretty severe injury, a career-threatening injury," he said.

"So for me it's just been a case of getting back there. It's taken a little bit longer than I'd have liked, but I feel great now which is fantastic."

Moving forward

Pietersen also believes the team are heading in the right direction and has praised the job done so far by stand-in skipper Alastair Cook.

"For the team it's been a great winter in terms of results, obviously we'd have liked to have beaten Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy and got through, but I think the team has moved forward really well under Andy (Strauss) and Andy (Flower) in South Africa and then Chef's come over here and Cooky's done a fantastic job," he added.

"So to win this Test match for Cooky would be fantastic as well because the boys have worked hard on the field and hard off the field and it's been a really good team effort. So it's been a successful winter I'd say."

England trained at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Thursday without Broad, who was absent through illness.

The fast bowler had been a doubt for the first Test due to a back injury but he is not currently considered a doubt for Saturday.

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