Flower: Pietersen itching to get at Proteas

PA Sport - Fri, 30 Oct 22:49:00 2009

England cricket boss Andy Flower has revealed Kevin Pietersen is "chomping at the bit" to get at South Africa.

England's Kevin Pietersen and Andy Flower - 0

Pietersen will remain behind to complete his rehabilitation from his Achilles injury when the England team fly out to Bloemfontein on Saturday for a winter tour which comprises two Twenty20s, five one-day internationals and four Test matches, and will catch a flight on November 9.

Pietersen wielded a bat for the first time in three months on Friday afternoon in a training session and England team director Flower said: "He's still got a bit of rehab work to do to get up to speed. Pietersen's been pushing himself running. He's chomping at the bit to get going."

He added: "Hopefully he'll be ok to play in the warm-up game against South Africa A and then ready to go at the start of the one-day series.

"That is what we are targeting. The infection has slowed everything up otherwise he would have been back during the English summer.

"But he brings a superb record, flair, confidence and the ability to counter attack.

"The fact that we won the Ashes with limited contributions from the two big stars (Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff) is a good thing for the unit and the country's cricket and when they come back that adds strength and power. That's a good thing.

"He'll just love getting a bat in his hands again and hitting the ball. That's what he loves doing.

"He is important to us. He's a world-class player who has a special talent and a special confidence. He is a huge boon for us."

PA Sport

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  1. To be honest John I have a lot of time for Pienersen.­ I'd have even more if he'd stop fannying across­ his stumps and learn to hit the ball on the off side­ occasionally. What I don't like is the pity card­ being played by the over privileged. Yep, over­ privileged. It's a privilege to play professional­ sport for a living and an even bigger blessing to do it­ at the highest level and no matter how many times they­ tell us it is hard work it won't wash. I find some­ of his remarks about the injury being a blessing harder­ to chew than his Grandma's biltong and his needle­ is in danger of becoming stuck in the Stresscothick­ groove. Poor lambs.

    From nocohere, on Mon 2 Nov 8:24PM

  2. Brain Worn is recovering after some much needed botox­ surgery. He is in the bed next to Pietersen....

    From nocohere, on Mon 2 Nov 8:08PM

  3. Hi Nocohere.Nice to hear from you again. Now,don't­ beat about the bush,Be honest.You don't really like­ Pietersen,do you?

    John,Spain.

    From John, on Mon 2 Nov 5:01PM

  4. nocohere - with middle order aces like Bopara, Bell and­ Collingwood, who needs Pietersen eh?

    From Bobito, on Mon 2 Nov 5:59AM

  5. Nocohere.......Where's Brain ???

    From ricmeo67, on Mon 2 Nov 3:59AM

  6. boy how i have missed the acidic tongue of you dear­ nocohere,thumbs up,thumbs up,thumbs up...

    From ricmeo67, on Mon 2 Nov 3:44AM

  7. wow what a rant lol

    From Adam, on Mon 2 Nov 1:11AM

  8. Who really cares whether this 6'4" hard done­ by bell end ever plays cricket again? I certainly­ don't. To be honest some of the self pitying­ remarks this over inflated Jessie has made since having­ his botty whacked leave me in no doubt that in his mind­ he has transcended not only the realms of a normal­ human being but also those of a professional cricketer­ and now dwells along with similar airheads on a fluffy­ cloud in the heavenly realm of celebrity. I should like­ to liberally apply gallons of salve to the great oaf in­ the hope, like some festering boil, he may disappear.­ If the mental invalid does manage to take the field­ against South Africa and do well he will no doubt hail­ the success a result of his much needed break and cry­ for similar holidays that he may grease his oily palm­ in the IPL. Whereas the truth will be it is simply a­ matter of application and determination to do well­ against his mother nation. It is a fact he scored 3­ centuries in his first ODI series against SA and yet in­ the following 4 or more years has only scratched up 4­ more. I would be more than happy to see him join his­ dear wife on celebrity spazzers on ice where they may­ both console one another as they tumble and bruise­ their much valued egos. No doubt his most valued­ possession after his lip balm is the mirror.

    From nocohere, on Sun 1 Nov 8:45PM
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