Pietersen confident over Tests

Eurosport - Fri, 05 Dec 13:12:00 2008

England captain Kevin Pietersen has said he is confident that his team would travel to India for next week's first Test in Chennai despite the recent atrocities in the country.

Kevin Pietersen - 0

England's squad were flying to Abu Dhabi on Thursday to practise while ECB security experts evaluate the situation in Chennai where the first Test is scheduled to start next Thursday.

They returned home last week after the one-day international series was cut short following the militant attacks in Mumbai that killed 171 people.

"We've bought ourselves some more time in Abu Dhabi," Pietersen said at Heathrow airport before boarding the plane. "It's very important that we go back, shoulder to shoulder with the Indian people in their time of need.

"What we want to do is show our support by hopefully playing some Test match cricket. We will assess the situation on Sunday but I'm very confident that we will go to play a Test match next week in Chennai."

However, Pietersen said the players would not make a final decision until they had received all the latest reports from the ECB's security manager Reg Dickason and Sean Morris, chief executive of the Professional Cricketers Association.

"There is a collective amongst the guys," he said. "The guys that go out there now are just waiting on the reports from Reg and Sean.

"If there are any major alarm bells ringing then I think he will be ringing to say that the collective decision is to come home. But as it stands at the moment the boys are focused on going to play some red ball cricket in Abu Dhabi and then hopefully the Test match on Thursday in Chennai."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered his support to England's players who have found themselves in a difficult position since events unfolded in India.

"These are very brave and courageous players and they want rightly to make their own decisions as individuals about what they do," Brown said in an interview on BBC Radio.

"We will give them all the security advice that is necessary (and) they have their own security advisers as well."

Managing director of England Cricket Hugh Morris said discussions were continuing with the Indian authorities and cricket board on Thursday.

"We have made it absolutely clear that the safety and security of the players and the ECB employees is of paramount importance and we need to make sure the necessary security is in place," he said.

The first Test was moved to Chennai from Ahmedabad. The second will take place in Mohali instead of the original venue of Mumbai.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. richgscottuk - I understand your frustration. There is­ obviously a very clever composition editor at work at­ Eurosport. I have been the victim of a few in the past­ couple of days. Or, the ECB have requested that any­ undue criticism is detected and rejected. We can't­ be scene to be responsible for our actions, can we?
    I­ can hear the words now!

    From Ray S, on Fri 5 Dec 6:47PM

  2. Knew that would get through - what is wrong with this­ site?

    From richgscottuk, on Fri 5 Dec 6:17PM

  3. is this comment valid?

    From richgscottuk, on Fri 5 Dec 6:16PM

  4. Funny how I got slagged off on this blog a week ago­ when I was 'dissing' Peitersen and the other­ muppetts, yet now you all seem to agree......
    Few if­ any of this rabble are fit to wear an England shirt yet­ with all the media hype, they will be the heroes of the­ sporting world if they go back, because of their­ "bravery". Stupidity, more like! This is a­ cynical attempt to deflect from the utter incompetence­ of English cricket, both on the field and­ administratively, by hiding their manifest shortcomings­ behind the fall-out from the deplorable events of a­ week ago. They should all stay in the UK and lick their­ wounds - and use the time to find another job!

    From Appalled, on Fri 5 Dec 2:40PM

  5. Is anyone surprised that Harmison doesn't want to­ return? He has been looking for an exit since­ immediately after the Stanford fiasco - which is the­ event that he only returned to ODIs for. Now that he­ hasn't got the $1m bucks in his pocket and it was­ time to get down to some real hard work and bowl for­ England he has been found wanting again.
    In fact, he­ was lethargic and ineffective in the ODIs and the­ termination of them has given him just the excuse he­ wanted.
    It was a disgraceful act by Miller and moores­ to bring him back, and a great insult to Hoggard who­ has never failed to give 100% for his country.
    Another­ act of folly by M&M, ar.e before brain, but they­ will never learn, favourites club rules.

    From Ray S, on Fri 5 Dec 9:53AM

  6. It's about time that KP dosed himself up on­ reality. I'm rather fed up with him continually­ talking up "the lads" and how great­ they'll be next time. This guy is the eternal­ optimist. Now he tells us that he is confident that the­ Tests will take place. Get real. And all this nonsense­ about "security". How secure can anyone be if­ some a***hole with a RPG decides to launch one at their­ hotel or even send a mortar onto the pitch. There is no­ such thing as "security" if a bunch of­ lunatics decide to cause mayhem in an organised or even­ disorganised way. It is one thing to secure a­ particular (smallish) area, it is quite another to­ secure a city.

    From Sussex BY The Sea, on Thu 4 Dec 8:40PM

  7. Apparently Harmison has piped up and said he­ doesn't want to go. Anyone surprised? Do you­ suppose he has offered to give up six months of his­ central contract money to get out of it? I wouldn't­ bet on it.

    From Ian H, on Thu 4 Dec 7:09PM

  8. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: ­ PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGH-LIGHTS OF PREMIER­ LEAGUE MATCHES

    From go to www.premiership.altervista.org, on Thu 4 Dec 6:29PM

  9. Freddie would do well to stay away from a pedalo - the­ Indian coastguard is high strung now and may shoot at­ all unknown objects near the harbour

    From Ramchandran, on Thu 4 Dec 2:51PM

  10. maybe england will win, without those payers crapping­ up everytime

    From sandya.campbell, on Thu 4 Dec 2:00PM

  11. maybe england will win, without those payers crapping­ up eberytime

    From sandya.campbell, on Thu 4 Dec 2:00PM

  12. Pity the same players have decided to go back. Perhaps­ if they didn't we could then have a team who will­ really play with some passion and conviction. Show that­ they want to play for England and not just the money.­ This current team (excluding a couple of players) are ­ too complacent.

    From Marion L, on Thu 4 Dec 12:02PM
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