Pietersen sets sights on Ashes
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
New skipper Kevin Pietersen believes England can regain the Ashes if they play with the spirit they showed in the win over South Africa at The Oval, reports BBC.
England had already lost the series but fought back to win the final Test by six wickets in Pietersen's first match in charge of the five-day side, reports BBC.
"It's been a great few days and a great few days for the side.
"If we play like we did this week we can beat Australia. The key is to play like we did here every game," he said.
"I have done a lot of thinking over the last few days. You do find yourself thinking about the game more and different scenarios.
"I have certainly done some thinking about Australia next year, a lot more than I would have when I was a player.
"Because you want to get the structure right, so guys can play in certain positions, feel comfortable, know their role and deliver.
"It will be important over the next nine months to learn their roles and then deliver.
"My main driving force for this team is to be, every single day, up for the challenge of improving, having no comfort zones and testing the guys out to perform every single day.
"One area we will need to improve on is our batting, that is an area of concern and something we need to do."
Pietersen was encouraged by his team's performance at The Oval, but admitted England lost their way in the series, having made the South Africans follow-on in the first Test at Lord's.
"At Lord's we had the upper hand and then South Africa drummed it into us for the next seven or eight days at Headingley and Edgbaston," he said.
On the subject of Steve Harmison, who made a successful return to the side with two wickets in each innings as well as a Test-best 49, Pietersen added: "The big man had a fantastic game - I would rather have seen him get man of the match."
England had already lost the series but fought back to win the final Test by six wickets in Pietersen's first match in charge of the five-day side, reports BBC.
"It's been a great few days and a great few days for the side.
"If we play like we did this week we can beat Australia. The key is to play like we did here every game," he said.
"I have done a lot of thinking over the last few days. You do find yourself thinking about the game more and different scenarios.
"I have certainly done some thinking about Australia next year, a lot more than I would have when I was a player.
"Because you want to get the structure right, so guys can play in certain positions, feel comfortable, know their role and deliver.
"It will be important over the next nine months to learn their roles and then deliver.
"My main driving force for this team is to be, every single day, up for the challenge of improving, having no comfort zones and testing the guys out to perform every single day.
"One area we will need to improve on is our batting, that is an area of concern and something we need to do."
Pietersen was encouraged by his team's performance at The Oval, but admitted England lost their way in the series, having made the South Africans follow-on in the first Test at Lord's.
"At Lord's we had the upper hand and then South Africa drummed it into us for the next seven or eight days at Headingley and Edgbaston," he said.
On the subject of Steve Harmison, who made a successful return to the side with two wickets in each innings as well as a Test-best 49, Pietersen added: "The big man had a fantastic game - I would rather have seen him get man of the match."