Pietersen set for summer in spotlight

Kevin Pietersen stamped his mark on the Ashes in the final Test in 2005 and he believes it is not just him who will contribute to success in 2009

Kevin Pietersen has been England's most prolific batsman ever since his first defining intervention with the innings which clinched the 2005 Ashes and sent his adopted country into raptures.

The four years since South Africa-born Pietersen's 158 against Australia at the Brit Oval have been eventful, to say the least.

The wild celebrations of September 2005 were followed swiftly by disappointments, first in Pakistan later that same year - then most notoriously in the 5-0 Ashes whitewash of 2006-07, a winter which also featured a disappointing World Cup campaign in the Caribbean.

More recently came Pietersen's sudden elevation to the England captaincy, following the resignation of 2005 Ashes-winner Michael Vaughan, but it was not long until he was back in the ranks under new leader Andrew Strauss.

For Pietersen, the weight of expectation has rarely appeared to weigh heavy.

His performances in high-pressure situations - and notably compelling statistics against the country of his birth - support the consensus that he relishes the requirements of the big match and the big moment.

They will not come a great deal bigger than the Ashes this summer, in which two evenly-matched teams seem sure to slug out a compelling series.

The man himself, though, is adamant it will be far from he alone who slays the old enemy - because he has identified, in emerging batsman Ravi Bopara and fast-bowling all-rounder Stuart Broad, among others - English players who can earn and share the glory.

It will not, however, be a case of vying with one another for the stage - because Pietersen's vision of England's Ashes campaign is a talented collective gaining the day.

“I've actually been quite annoyed when people have said the likes of Ravi are my rivals to counter the Australians,” he explains.

“I am with Ravi all day every day; I love the bloke - his confidence, the way he plays without fear, the way he talks about things and the way he doesn't worry.

“I love his approach, and it's something a lot of the players can learn from.”

Pietersen is close friends with Ravi Bopara and expects the number three will have a great series with the bat for England

Bopara's youthful swagger has a more naive expression than Pietersen's.

Behind it, though, is skill of a similarly elite order - and Pietersen is convinced there are others too who are well capable of proving themselves world class.

“Broad has been exceptional, Matty Prior is somebodywho has improved so much as well, and James Anderson produced a brilliant display at Durham (in the second Test against West Indies) - I don't care who you are, you're not playing that sort of bowling well.”

Pietersen is convinced all of the above means there is much more to England's 2009 Ashes squad than him fighting individual battles against Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee et al - with occasional assistance from unlikely quarters.

In fact, Strauss' England remind Pietersen of the great Australian generation of the early 2000s - when there seemed to be a superstar for every occasion, if anyone dared to seriously challenge the teams led by Steve Waugh and then Ricky Ponting.

Australia have been less formidable in recent times, a series win in South Africa following defeats at home to those same opponents and - before then - in India.

“England are not relying on one or two players,” Pietersen stresses.

“If you look at Australia during their good times ... if (Matthew) Hayden didn't perform, (Adam) Gilchrist did.

“The best thing about what's happening now is that if I fail like I did when I got a first-baller (in the first Test against West Indies) at Lord's, we still got a decent total.”

Pietersen, it seems, is intent on challenging not just himself but all those alongside him to meet his own highest expectations this summer.