The cricketer says he is in the best form of his life and believes England have the edge going into a defining summer of Tests.
Kevin Pietersen says he is in the best form of his life and believes England have the edge going into a defining summer of Tests.
Pietersen's warm-up for the first Test at Lord's against the West Indies next week was dampened by rain as he made a rare appearance for Surrey at Worcester's New Road yesterday (Wednesday).
But he told The Daily Telegraph that playing in the Indian Premier League for the past month had prepared him perfectly, saying "I feel like I've never batted better."
After England's wettest April on record, and following Pietersen's prolific spell with the Delhi Daredevils, he will be the form batsman going into the international summer and keen to capitalise, in particular against South Africa.
Pietersen has played only eight Tests against his birth country, and has a poorer average than against the other top Test nations. He said England would have to be at their best to retain their world No?1 Test status.
"A lot of people don't want you there and the pressure and weight of expectation is massive," he said. "We will have to play some very good cricket to keep that tag."
Pietersen believes the teams' bowlers are closely matched, but that "we probably edge it with [Graeme] Swann". And he hit back at critics have claimed that T20 cricket is not suitable preparation for a summer of Test cricket.
"I'm sick and tired of having to defend myself about going to the IPL every year, he said. "All the best players in the world play in it, but every March and April I have to defend myself about going to India.
"It's not going to change, I will play in the IPL, it's the best tournament going and that's the way it is.
"I'm at the stage of my career now where I just want to influence games positively and play to the requirements of the team, and whatever happens, happens. I feel in great nick. Everyone knows you have a couple of bad scores and everyone says you are in bad nick again. I know that is not true. All I'm doing at the moment is concentrating on my batting, doing whatever I can do to influence a fixture here in Worcester."
Surrey spinner Gareth Batty said having Pietersen around - playing only his fifth County Championship match in seven years, since being picked for England - was "like gold dust" for the county team.
Apart from having to reacquaint himself with his long-sleeved jumper, Pietersen said he was happy to be representing Surrey. "It is what served me well at the start of my career in England. I love county cricket. It's a brilliant format and a brilliant concept."
Pietersen's brilliant hundred in Colombo in March was controversial after he was warned for time wasting, a move brought about when Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan pulled out of bowling as KP set himself to play the switch hit. The stroke, during which Pietersen swaps to being left-handed, will be discussed by the International Cricket Council next week. It is expected to propose amendments to help the bowlers, including a greater right to lbw decision and a relaxation of leg-side wides in one-day cricket.
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