Pietersen admits relief at end of tour
Star batsman Kevin Pietersen has confirmed that he was glad to be heading home at the end of a disappointing tour of India, and was relieved that England finished on a winning note in Kolkata.
England were able to over-come India’s set target of 120-9 in the one-off Twenty20 international at Eden Garden, with Pietersen giving a man of the match performance with 53 as the Three Lions won by six wickets.
Following their disastrous one-day series whitewash, Pietersen said the team went out to enjoy the game and play with freedom in the shorter format.
“We go back with one-sixth of a smile on our faces,” quipped Pietersen. “It’s been a tough, tough trip and this is only the second game I’ve won in India in however many times I’ve come.
“It’s good to end on a note like this but there’s been some positives. We were just outplayed in the 50-over game. You’re a lot more free in Twenty20, batsmen can come out and get on with it.
“When you go through the tiers (T20, ODI and Tests) you can play a lot less freely each time, and that was the key tonight.
“You’re a lot more accountable for your wicket in one-day matches. If I get out playing a switch-hit off my eighth ball like a did tonight I’ll look a clown.
“There’s a lot more deeper issues we can look at with our batting and certainly our bowling.”
Meanwhile, Pietersen battled through a broken thumb but said he did not feel it interfered too much.
“My thumb’s broken,” he added. “But I wanted to stay and play because I’d never played at Eden Gardens. You grow up and you dream of playing cricket at certain grounds and I’m just happy that I stayed.
“We are very lucky coming to India to be looked after as cricketers because they really do treat you brilliantly. It’s very competitive on the field, it’s hard on the field, but off it they treat us like champions and any cricketer who comes to India is very privileged.
“I struggled this evening. There were some balls, full balls that I struggled with but when you get going it’s a little bit easier and you tolerate a bit more.
“He got it very right and our bowlers were brilliant. Ravi Bopara after a testing tour bowled brilliantly towards the end of the innings and I’m so happy for the little man.
“It was good fun and it was nice to win.”
