Pietersen rallying call to fans

Kevin Pietersen warms up in preparation for his Ashes debut © Getty Images

Kevin Pietersen has warmed up for his eagerly-anticipated Test debut by urging supporters to break with Lord's tradition and provide loud support for England's Ashes challenge.

Unlike other Test venues in this country, many of which encourage chanting and fans attending in fancy dress, Lord's crowds tend to be more conservative and are usually even-handed in their appreciation of both sides’ performances.

That was certainly the case during the recent one-day matches between the two sides at Lord's which was in stark contrast to the partisan support at other grounds this summer, particularly during the Twenty20 match at the Rose Bowl when Australian players were continually barracked while every England success was enthusiastically cheered.

But as England complete their build-up for the opening npower Test, Pietersen has led the call for a more vocal style of support over the next five days as they attempt to become the first side to overcome Australia in a Lord's Test since 1934.

Pietersen has called for the Lord's crowd to be more vocal

“It would be good for the crowds to get right behind the England team and absolutely nail them from ball one,” stressed Pietersen.

“The Rose Bowl atmosphere was sensational, you go to Leeds it's pretty good, The Oval was pretty good and Birmingham was too so I was surprised by the Lord's crowd, but you have all those members, you have people who understand everything about cricket, not just a dropped catch or a mis-field.

“It would be great if they could get behind us for the first ball and try and replicate what the Rose Bowl crowd did - the boys would really appreciate it, it would really pick them up.

“I was playing grade cricket in Sydney when England were last in Australia and, jeez, they copped it,” he continued.

“They copped it all day, every day on chat shows, on adverts, on everything the English got absolutely crucified and I think the English press and media should do the same to them for the whole stint they're out here.”

Pietersen is not intimidated by the Australians © Getty Images

Pietersen, preferred to experienced Surrey left-hander Graham Thorpe for the opening Test following his impressive displays against Australia during the one-day series, does not appear at all intimidated by either the weight of expectation upon him or the challenge which lies ahead.

Despite fears he would be criticised after choosing to leave his South African home to qualify for England, Pietersen has instead been inundated with messages of support since breaking into the one-day side last winter.

“All I can say to the public is that I hope I can reward the kind things that have been said about me and to me and assisted in me being selected,” he said.

“The public have been fantastic and I've been very appreciative of that and people are now coming up to me saying the whole country is behind me.

“It's been surprising and it's not been surprising. It's been pretty big over the last month with all the stuff about me and Thorpe, but I'm excited about Thursday and hopefully I can go out and do well for everybody.

Brett Lee will look to get Pietersen early © Getty Images

“It might have been easier going in against somebody else, but I look forward to the challenge. It's a massive challenge and that's what I'm about - I love massive challenges.

“Australia will probably come hard at me now because of what I did against them in the one-dayers and hopefully I can conquer the challenge.”

Of course it is his close friendship with legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, which has been forged while playing together for Hampshire this summer, which could be one of the key confrontations of the series.

Pietersen is happy to offer any advice about what makes Warne tick to any team-mate who asks, but believes he can offer little that is not already known about one of only three players in history to pass 500 Test wickets.

“If you want to find the best way to play him, the best way would be to ring (Sachin) Tendulkar or (Brian) Lara,” added Pietersen.

Pietersen has offered his advice on Shane Warne to anyone who asks for it © Getty Images

“I've watched Warney a bit and I know how he looks to take wickets and he's pretty open with me because he's a mate of mine.

“But that's not to say the ball's not going to pitch in the rough and hit the top of off-stump on Thursday because in Test cricket anything can happen.

“I'll be offering advice if people ask me about him, but I think we've watched him enough to know how he bowls.

“He will probably do the same for his team because he's looking to get me out and win the Ashes.”