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Mixed feelings for England skipper

Special Correspondent

Coach Kirsten says it was important India picked up two wickets late in the day

— Photo: S. Subramanium

LEADING FROM THE FRONT: England captain Kevin Pietersen scored a masterly century on the third day of the second Test against India on Sunday.

Mohali: England captain Kevin Pietersen had mixed feelings about his batting effort here on Sunday. While he hugely enjoyed his innings, Pietersen was disappointed at England losing two wickets at the fag end of the third day.

“My decision could have gone my way and with Freddie (Andrew Flintoff)…well it’s amazing how the light changes in a couple of minutes. I didn’t hit it. I played down the line of leg-stump and could have been given the benefit of the doubt. But you win some, you lose some.”

Difficult to win

Pietersen conceded, “But I am afraid we are out of the Test, difficult to win the game. Now we will be happy to get a draw out of the game.”

He termed Yuvraj Singh “a pie chucker.” With Zaheer Khan bowling so well in the series, he was not concerned about facing “left-arm filth,” Pietersen added.

He was answering a question on M.S. Dhoni bringing on Yuvraj — in a ploy to dismiss Pietersen — in only the third over of the innings.

On Yuvraj’s on-field gestures, Pietersen said, “The gestures were not insulting. Everyone is entitled to express himself.”

The England captain said if the scoring areas on the leg-side were blocked, he would employ the switch-hit and the reverse sweep. “That’s what I did in the ODIs and that’s what I will do in Tests. I don’t see it as a risky shot but as a scoring option.”

On handling the pressures of captaincy while continuing to bat with freedom, Pietersen said, “I love batting. Batting is what I am born to do. Batting in India is special. Fantastic crowds and knowledgeable people.

“To come back after what has happened and score runs here is really special.

Asked about South Africa’s successful 400-plus chase at Perth, he said, “You’ve got to look at a few things in depth. The wicket in Perth was sensational to bat on but the Chennai wicket was not a 387-run wicket.”

He refused to read too much on the speculations about the IPL and England. “I don’t read the papers…haven’t read about IPL. It is not right to talk about Twenty20 cricket in the middle of a Test.”

India coach Gary Kirsten said it was important that his team picked up two wickets late in the day.

Turn around

“Until then, Pietersen was batting unbelievably well. It was one of the great knocks in Test cricket. He was batting under good light and put us under a lot of pressure. Those two wickets have turned it around for us.”

Kirsten added, “We did well in the last session to keep the scoring-rate down to under three an over. It was very important for us. We are in a very strong position in the Test.”

On Pietersen’s switch hit, Kirsten said, “It is an unbelievable shot, he is a master of it. It is very exciting for the game but they are going to have to do something about the laws. I believe it is a serious advantage to the batsman. I think they have got to give something to the bowler in terms of lbw.”

Kirsten had words of praise for leg-spinner Amit Mishra’s bowling. “I think the slider is a very important delivery these days because the umpires are giving a batsman out even if he takes a big stride forward,” he said.

He added India would also take into account the fact that it was already 1-0 up in the series while planning the strategy for the last two days.

Mohali Test in pictures: Day 3 | Day 2 | Day 1

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