KP chasing one-day lift

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Last updated: 9th September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

KP chasing one-day lift

Pietersen: Leading by example

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England head into the first of their five-match Natwest one-day series with South Africa looking to maintain the momentum created by Kevin Pietersen's winning debut as Test captain.

Pietersen has also taken the ODI reins on a permanent basis and will be looking for a similar response from his players in the day-night clash at Headingley on Friday.

He did lead the one-day side during the final game of the recent series against New Zealand in Paul Collingwood's enforced absence and endured a losing debut as skipper, with England consequently succumbing to a 3-1 series defeat.

However, having been appointed on a full-time basis, he will be looking to inspire a different outcome in Leeds.

At his behest there have been changes to the England side with Tim Ambrose paying the price for his lack of runs.

The Warwickshire glovesman has been axed with Matt Prior offered another chance to stake his claim on the international scene.

Prior was dropped following the Test leg of last year's Sri Lanka tour due to some under-par displays with the gloves, but is looking to learn from his mistakes.

Pressure

"It's incredible that the keeping position for England has become this big thing," he stated. "The way I try and look at it is that you can't take it too personally otherwise you put yourself under too much pressure and you can't perform.

"I learned a huge amount from being involved with England before and I come back a year later as a more mature person and cricketer - I'm really looking forward to doing the job and doing it better."

Pietersen has also announced that Owais Shah will be promoted to number three and given an extended chance to make the position his own.

England are also boosted by the return of Andrew Flintoff who showed encouraging signs with both bat and ball during the Test series with the Proteas.

His presence ensures there is plenty of competition for places with the likes of Luke Wright, Ravi Bopara and Samit Patel all battling for inclusion.

England do have injury concerns to contend with, though, with pacemen Ryan Sidebottom and Chris Tremlett both struggling for fitness in the run-up to the match.

With James Anderson very much in form, Stuart Broad will be waiting in the wings should either man fail to recover in time.

Gibbs returns

Long regarded as one of the world's best one-day outfits, the South Africans will be looking to claim a Test and ODI double when the series gets underway on Friday.

The tourists have recalled Herschelle Gibbs for the one-dayers having overlooked him for Test duty with off-spinner Johan Botha also expected to force his way into the team.

Captain Graeme Smith, who has struggled with injuries himself on the tour, has a couple of fitness worries ahead of the curtain-raiser in Headingley with brothers Albie and Morne Morkel battling to overcome shoulder and side strain problems respectively.

England (from): Pietersen (capt), Bell, Broad, Cook, Patel, Shah, Swann, Wright, Anderson, Bopara, Collingwood, Flintoff, Prior (wk), Sidebottom, Tremlett

South Africa (from): Smith (capt), Botha, de Villiers, Gibbs, A Morkel, Nel, Ontong, Steyn, Amla, Boucher (wk), Duminy, Kallis, M MOrkel, Ntini, Philander