Gatting: Big ask for KP

Batsman selection was a gamble says former skipper

By Lizzie Rose   Last updated: 12th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Gatting: Big ask for KP

Gatting: Pietersen is a gamble

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Former England captain Mike Gatting believes naming Kevin Pietersen in the national squad for their tour of South Africa was a risk.

Pietersen was included in the 16-man squad despite having been sidelined since undergoing an operation on his Achilles tendon in July

The 29-year-old was a doubt for the trip after an infection hindered his recovery from the injury, which forced him to miss the last three Ashes tests.

The batsman, who first developed the Achilles problem during England's tour of the West Indies in March, is expected to return for the ODIs in South Africa in November.

"We only have one or two warm-up matches so it's going to be a big ask from him to get back to his best, even someone of his ability. He wasn't in the best of nick when he left," said Gatting.

"He hasn't played for a few months and hasn't done a great deal. It's not easy to act level against one of the better sides in the world.

Lingering

"He can't just pick it up where he left off after such a serious injury. You have to have a couple of games to get into it, get your rhythm back, get your hand-eye co-ordination right and it will take time.

"He may still have the injury lingering in the back of his mind so he has to get fully confident again. All that has to be out of his mind so he can get on with the batting."

Despite Pietersen's absence over the summer England earned a surprise victory over Australia to regain the Ashes, and Gatting believes the win shows they can cope without the South African.

"We managed to win the Ashes without Pietersen so I can't see why we can't do well in South Africa without him," the 52-year-old said.

"What England have to do is get rid of that inconsistency because at the moment when they are good they can be very good, but when they are bad they are very bad."

England arrive in South Africa on November 1 and play three one-day warm-ups before taking on the hosts in two Twenty20 games, five one-day internationals and four Tests.