NZ have better chance to beat England sans Pietersen in T20 WC

New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum has said they would be heading into their second match of the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 World Cup against England with more confidence due to Kevin Pietersen's absence.

The 2010 player of the tournament, Pietersen is in a Colombo TV studio rather than in Kandy preparing for the game on Saturday, and McCullum believes it is a confidence boost for the Kiwis in their push for the trophy.

"The fact Kevin Pietersen isn't in the England team fills us with a bit more ­confidence," the Daily Mirror quoted McCullum, as saying.

"It is a tough question to answer because I don't know about the politics of what has gone on, but looking at Kevin Pietersen the talent and Kevin Pietersen the player, the game is poorer without him," he added.

"I hope they can resolve their differences so people who love the game can get to enjoy the success that he is. The big-name clashes in the game are what people want to see and it's the sort of thing that whets the ­appetite as well, but if he's not playing that helps us," he said.