LONDON: Exiled England star Kevin Pietersen showed what his country is missing as the controversial batsman hit a sparkling century for Surrey in a County Championship match against Somerset yesterday.
Pietersen is fighting to save his international career after being dropped by England following a row over the controversial text messages the 32-year-old sent to South Africa players during the recent Test series.
With no sign that England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower are willing to forgive Pietersen for criticizing them in the texts, the South Africa-born player has been consigned to county cricket action for the rest of the season.
And, with England in action against South Africa in the second one-day international in Southampton, Pietersen took the opportunity to underline his talent with a superb innings of 163 from just 168 balls.
Pietersen smashed the Somerset attack to all parts of Taunton, hitting 20 fours and three sixes, to secure his second County Championship century of the season.
He passed 50 off 66 balls and 100 off 116 as Surrey recovered from 73-3 on the first day of the First Division match.
Pietersen was the last man out, caught behind by Jos Buttler off the bowling of Sajid Mahmood, as Surrey were dismissed for 317 in their first innings.
Surrey cricket manager Chris Adams claimed the quality of the century proved both England and Pietersen would benefit from resolving their issues.
“Kevin looked as good as he ever has,” Adams said.
“There are unresolved issues and the sooner there is a solution, the better for everyone, and particularly Kevin himself. “My job is to make sure he is in the right frame of mind to play well for Surrey. He has been superb in our dressing room and worked very hard in the nets.”
Pietersen back in form with ton for Surrey
Pietersen back in form with ton for Surrey
Scotland shake up team for Six Nations opener
- Kinghorn is replaced by Tom Jordan at fullback for their opening match of the tournament
- Townsend selected Jamie Dobie, who also plays at scrum-half, and Kyle Steyn on the wings instead
EDINBURGH: Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has shaken up his starting line-up to take on Italy in the Six Nations in Rome on Saturday, leaving out regular fullback Blair Kinghorn and their two top try scorers when he named the team on Thursday.
Kinghorn is replaced by Tom Jordan at fullback for their opening match of the tournament, while Darcy Graham was relegated to the bench and Duhan van der Merwe left out.
Van der Merwe has a record 35 tries for Scotland, with Graham one behind him, but Townsend selected Jamie Dobie, who also plays at scrum-half, and Kyle Steyn on the wings instead. Left wing Dobie gets his first Six Nations start.
“Blair, Duhan and Darcy have had some terrific games for us and they’re very proud of playing for Scotland,” Townsend said at a press conference.
“But there’s competition in that back-three area like there is in other positions and we feel Jamie, Kyle and Tom deserve their starts given how well they’ve been playing.
Townsend praised the three who were dropped as “quality players.”
“If or when they get back into the squad or they get an opportunity off the bench, like Darcy will on Saturday, we know we’re going to have hungry players desperate to get back in the starting team,” the Scotland coach added.
“But for now, we’re really pleased with that back three, how they’ve been playing but also how they’ve been combining in training.”
The injured trio of Ewan Ashman, Jack Dempsey, and Jamie Dobie have all recovered in time to make the line-up after being injury doubts last weekend.
Huw Jones, who played for the British & Irish Lions in Australia last year, is returning to the Scotland set-up after missing the November tests as he recovered from surgery on his Achilles tendon. He will partner captain Sione Tuipulotu in what will be the 18th test match the pair have played together, including for the Lions.
There is also a return for prop forward Zander Fagerson while Scott Cummings, who missed last year’s championship through injury, returns to Six Nations action alongside Grant Gilchrist in the second row.
Nine of the players in the starting line-up come from Glasgow Warriors with another five on the bench, reflecting the stellar season Scotland’s top team are having.
Team: 15-Tom Jordan, 14-Kyle Steyn, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11-Jamie Dobie, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Ben White, 8-Jack Dempsey, 7-Rory Darge, 6-Matt Fagerson, 5-Grant Gilchrist, 4-Scott Cummings, 3-Zander Fagerson, 2-Ewan Ashman, 1-Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16-George Turner, 17-Nathan McBeth, 18-Elliot Millar Mills, 19-Max Williamson, 20-Gregor Brown, 21-George Horne, 22-Adam Hastings, 23-Darcy Graham.
