Pietersen adds value to thriving unit

Kevin Pietersen's impending return will only add to England's "positive outlook" in South Africa, believes Graeme Swann

Kevin Pietersen may be poised to return in South Africa after a long injury lay-off, but England’s star batsman will have to fight for his place in the line-up, according to Graeme Swann.

Pietersen has been recuperating from surgery to his right Achilles tendon – an injury that forced him to miss the last three Tests of this summer's Ashes – but will arrive in South Africa tomorrow before linking up with the rest of the squad on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old's arrival is set to further strengthen England’s resources a week into a tough two-and-a-half-month trip, which has already begun so promisingly with comprehensive victories in their opening two games.

The line-up appears to be taking good shape on the back of an encouraging ICC Champions Trophy display in which England reached the semi-final.

Pietersen was not part of that squad and neither was Jonathan Trott, but while the former has been recovering over the past three months, the latter has been shining with the bat – he delivered a telling performance on his Test debut in the Ashes decider.

Trott has also made a flying start to the tour, scoring 85 in a man-of-the-match display against the Diamond Eagles to stake his claim for a place in the team, and Swann admits it will not be easy for Pietersen to walk straight back in.

He said: “I don’t know what the situation is with Kevin and how close he is to being fit but I think it’s exciting for us to know that he’s going to come back in.

“He’s a massive personality and a massive player. It’s going to be good for the team from a playing perspective because he’s one of the best players in the world.

Runs have not been a problem for Jonathan Trott. He followed his century in the Oval Ashes Test with 85 against the Eagles

“Kev’s just going to add to the positive outlook. I don’t think he’s going to change it. You never know, he might even have to fight for his place when he gets here.”

England play their final warm-up match against a strong South Africa A side in Bloemfontein tomorrow ahead of two Twenty20 internationals against the Proteas at the weekend.

Pietersen could taste his first action in one of those games - but, with or without him, Swann insists that the team can cope.

Swann pointed to the final npower Ashes Test as the perfect example, saying: “Whenever you lose one or two of your big players, everyone else has got to step up to the plate and perform.

“Last summer they did, that last Test match everyone was saying that it had to be Andrew Flintoff’s massive last game and it was Stuart Broad who took the limelight.

“We can’t be reliant on one or two players, that’s unhealthy for the team and unhealthy for English cricket. Thankfully at the minute, everyone’s chipping in in their own respective areas, which is a more healthy state to be in.

“From a confidence perspective and a results perspective, winning the first game is vitally important, so we’ll be just looking to go out and win those games.”

Swann, the only bowler to statistically impress in England’s eight-wicket win against the Warriors with 3-26, is happy with the way the tourists have begun, especially considering their recent record of starting tours slowly.

Hurdles to overcome: Andrew Strauss, right, has taken a serious approach to the warm-up matches ahead of meeting South Africa

The Nottinghamshire off-spinner said: “As Andrew Strauss has said before both these games, nearly every tour he’s ever been on, England have gone terribly in these warm-up games.

"In the past, we've not got anything like the practise and momentum we need out of the games going into a series.

“So he’s put a lot of emphasis on treating them like full internationals and I think we have. Everyone’s performed, which is positive.”

Swann was also full of praise for the way his captain, who made 117 not out at the De Beers Diamond Oval, had played.

He added: “Yesterday 250 could have been one of those totals which is quite tricky to chase.

“But the way in which Strauss and Joe Denly played at the top bodes very well because they looked very positives.

“They also looked to play a fresh, exciting brand of cricket, which is something we probably need because we’ve not done it for a while.”