Vaughan says KP can silence boo-boys
Michael Vaughan, the former England captain says Kevin Pietersen
knows what he needs to do to shut-up his critics among the crowds in
South Africa - score hundreds.
South Africa-born Pietersen made his name as an international player
under Vaughan's leadership by scoring three hundreds during the one-day
leg of England's tour of South Africa in 2004/05. It's just like the
Ricky Ponting situation in the summer: the more you talk about it, the
more it happens," said Vaughan as he reflected on the rough ride the
Australia captain got from some home fans during the course of England's
Ashes series win earlier this year.
The way to deal with it is exactly how Kev dealt with it last time,
when he reeled off three hundreds," Vaughan added.
Pietersen started off the 2004/05 series being booed mercilessly by
home fans, angered by his change of allegiance which the batsman
controversially attributed to his being denied opportunities in South
Africa because of a quota system designed to advance the progress of
non-white cricketers.
England's current tour of South Africa has again seen Pietersen cast
as a kind of pantomime villain" by some home fans but, unlike five years
ago he has so far struggled for runs.
Returning from the Achilles injury which sidelined him from most of
the Ashes, Pietersen has so far managed scores of four, 45 and three in
the ongoing one-day series which England lead 2-1 with one to play.
Because KP is so famous we are making a big story out of it," said
Vaughan.
He is probably a bit desperate to get a score and that can have its
effect on your game.
But the real positive for England is that they are winning matches
without him contributing.
When he does that will add another 15 percent to the team and that
will take us to a really good level.
Kevin has got such a good eye for the ball and has scoring areas
which people dream about. He just has to try to be as positive as he
can."
Meanwhile Vaughan was encouraged by the way another South Africa-born
batsman Jonathan Trott, whose loyalties he'd previously queried by
saying he'd been celebrating with South Africa following their
series-clinching win at Edgbaston some 16 months ago, and ex-Ireland
batsman Eoin Morgan were becoming key members of the one-day top-order.
Jonathan Trott is going to be `Mr Consistent' for England," said
Vaughan. I have been really impressed with him so far. As for Eoin
Morgan, I think he is the player that England have been looking for for
the last 15 years.
He reminds me so much of Neil Fairbrother (the former Lancashire and
England left-hander who was best known as a one-day batsman), and he has
got that six-hitting ability to go with it." LONDON, Wednesday AFP
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