Adelaide, Dec. 5: Kevin Pietersen relished the big stage of an Ashes Test to bat England into an impregnable position with a imperious double-century at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The third day belonged solely to the man they call the “walking ego” as he dominated a beleaguered Australian bowling attack to remain unconquered on 213 when rain called a halt to play after tea.
“I do love the big occasion, I do love challenging myself against the best players in the world,” Pietersen said.
“When it gets tough I love that, and it’s been pretty tough over the last 18 months but this is a challenge I’ve really looked forward to. It’s something where you get up in the morning as an English cricketer and think this is what it’s made of, to know that we were quietly confident that we could come out here and do a really good job, or a lot better than last time,” he said.
“That gets your juices flowing. I remember leaving Heathrow airport (for Australia) thinking this will be amazing. If that can’t get you going, nothing will get you going,” he said.
“It’s not been the best time. You go through your career, you have good stuff and bad stuff. I’ve had a lot of good stuff fortunately and a little bit of bad stuff. It’s gone now, I’m looking forward,” he said.
Pietersen has learned to curb his natural instincts to go after the bowlers, which has cost him some bigger scores in the past. “It’s trying to go through the gears to fifth, then being able to get back down to third and if need be drop back into first and then go back up,” he said, adding, “It’s something I’ve worked hard on and it’s what the team needs. We’re not looking at two or three sessions ahead, we are looking at 10 minutes, 10-run partnerships and keeping things simple.”