Five Memorable Innings of Kevin Pietersen

Star England batsman, Kevin Pietersen calls it quits after playing his last match for Quetta Gladiators, as he will not travel to Pakistan for the knockout games. Meanwhile, Pietersen has had an illustrious career with England scoring tons of runs for them.

Previously, Pietersen declared in February that this season’s Pakistan Super League would be his last tournament. He had a more or less an average tournament showing glimpses of form at times. Pietersen managed to score one half-century in the past eight innings, albeit an explosive 52 from 34 balls against Karachi Kings.

Although Pietersen showed some form, it is plain the passion has ebbed away from his game. Pietersen leaves the game, as England’s highest run-scorers across all formats combined including 8181 runs in 104 Tests. He was left out of the team surprisingly in the wake of a disastrous 5-0 loss in the Ashes in 2013/14.

Since then, Pietersen had played white-ball cricket across the globe. South Africa-born Pietersen had played for Delhi Daredevils and Rising Pune Supergiant in the IPL, Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash, St Lucia Stars in the Caribbean and Sunfoil Dolphins in South Africa, as well as with Surrey.

Here are five memorable innings of Kevin Pietersen for England:

 186 vs India (November 2012)

Kevin Pietersen had a special liking for the Indian attack as he was one of the best players against spin bowling in last decade or so.

Pietersen was at his marvelous best in the 2nd test match of England’s 2012-13 tour of India at Mumbai. Replying to India’s score of 327, Pietersen smashed 186 runs off just 233 balls including 20 fours and 4 sixes.

England ultimately won the match with 10 wickets with Pietersen receiving the man of the match award.

227 vs Australia (December 2010)

After a plain draw in the first Test, England took an early advantage in the second Test in Adelaide by bundling Australia out for 245.

Pietersen showed his class with a double ton, something he missed on the same venue during his last trip. The swashbuckling batsman registered 227 runs with the help of 33 fours and one sixes. Eventually, England won the match by an innings 71 runs.

They went on to win the Ashes 3-1 in the end.

158 vs Australia ( September 2005)

The most dramatic Ashes series in recent times also had a fairytale end to it. It was Pietersen’s first ever Ashes, and in the final innings of the series, he scored his first Test hundred.

England was in deep trouble striving at 126 for 5. They needed at least a draw to win the Ashes, whereas Australia desperately needed to win in order to retain the urn.

Pietersen defied the Australian bowlers to write his name in history with a match-saving 158 which resulted in England winning the Ashes after 18 years.

202* vs India (Test, July 2011)

Once again it was India at the receiving end of Pietersen’s masterclass. He smashed an unbeaten 202 at Lords and guided England to a massive 196-run win. Pietersen scored at a rate of 61 and included 22 boundaries.

One of the biggest advantages of Pietersen’s batting was his ability to score at a quick rate which allowed England to declare their 1st innings and attack the Indian batsmen.

Pietersen’s double centuries proved to be decisive for England and this particular inning against India at Lords has to be one KeP’s best innings of all-time.

130 vs Pakistan (February 2012)

Pietersen played a match-winning knock of 130 runs in the fourth ODI against Pakistan at Dubai. He scored at a rate of 84.96 with the help of 12 boundaries and two sixes.

England saw a collapse in the middle-order, however, Pietersen knock helped his team cross the target with four balls to spare.

It is undoubtedly one of his best ODI knocks as he dominated one of the best bowling attacks.

Meanwhile, his passion has now flowed increasingly into rhino conservation, for which he is a spokesman. Pietersen is currently having a house built near Kruger national park in South Africa. He also used two of his final appearances, for Surrey in last season’s NatWest Blast and Melbourne Stars in the BBL, to promote the cause with fund-raising “Rhino Days”.

Further, here is the newsfeed:

Toss up between Hyderabad and Rajkot for India’s maiden day-night Test

I am sure that everyone is relaxed ahead of the final: Shakib Al Hasan