KP expects England to fight back

Captain Kevin Pietersen is adamant England can make the necessary improvements to hit back in the third one-day international at Kanpur.

Pietersen's side were outclassed in the first match at Rajkot, losing by 158 runs, but gave India a run for their money yesterday before slipping to a 54-run defeat.

The skipper and Andrew Flintoff blasted 59 from the five-over batting powerplay to boost their pursuit of 293 for victory.

Spinner Graeme Swann is in contention for a place in the third one-day game at Kanpur

However, both batsman perished soon after to leave their team-mates too much to do in the closing overs, leaving the tourists 2-0 down in the seven-match series.

And Pietersen believes England can raise their game again to reproduce the form that saw them thrash South Africa 4-0 in the NatWest Series.

"I just think we can be competitive and keep improving to get closer and win a couple of games," he said. “We want to try to win this series because that's what we're here to do.”

Pietersen admitted England are considering making changes to their line-up in Kanpur with Nottinghamshire bowlers Graeme Swann and Ryan Sidebottom coming into contention.

Both last played a one-day international in the final match of the NatWest Series against New Zealand in June.

Swann could partner county team-mate Samit Patel as England`s spin option while Sidebottom, who missed out on the warm-up matches with prolonged Achilles problems, would be in contention to take the new ball.

"There's a food for thought there definitely, but we'll just wait and see," added Pietersen.

"It's quite emotional talking just after a match so we'll see where we go.”