Home comforts help Pietersen

1 September 2008

Kevin Pietersen has sought the advice of wife Jessica regularly © Getty Images

Kevin Pietersen revealed how he has leaned on his wife Jessica’s experience of life in the public eye to deal with the extra pressures of being England’s new captain.

The 28-year-old was appointed England’s captain just four weeks ago after Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood stepped down from the roles of Test and one-day skipper respectively due to the demanding nature of the posts.

Pietersen has handled the elevation in status admirably, guiding England to victory over South Africa in the final npower Test at the Brit Oval and four successive wins in the NatWest Series against the same opponents - putting his side within sight of a series whitewash at the SWALEC Stadium on Wednesday.

But behind the calm and confident leadership he has displayed on the pitch, Pietersen admitted he regularly turns for advice to wife Jessica, a former member of pop group Liberty X.

“I’m very fortunate that I have a wife who has been in the spotlight for a lot longer than I have,” explained Pietersen.

“She had seven or eight years of a very successful music career and I can go home and she can talk to me about stuff and we can chuck ideas around together, and I know Colly didn’t have that.

“It’s very important to be able to speak to her about stuff and she just comes off a different wavelength completely. She gives me different ideas and so much help and advice.

“She has been brilliant for me to talk to and I know I have that extra advice at home, which is great.

“I try my hardest to get a really good approach to time off, which helps,” said Pietersen, talking at a touch rugby session involving England players Alastair Cook, Graeme Swann and Luke Wright and several members of the Cardiff Blues and Ospreys rugby union teams organised by sponsors Vodafone.

“As soon as I finish on Wednesday that will be it - I’ll be gone. I’ll be in the country for four or five days and then I’ll be away for a long time spending time with my wife and getting away from it all.

"It’s come as a real blessing in disguise, the cancellation of the Champions Trophy.

“The mobile phone never stops and I can see why most people only last in this job for four or five years.

“I got told that when I took it over and I’m starting to realise that with everything that’s going on but when you’re winning it’s not as hard - when you start losing I bet it gets really difficult.”

Knowing the huge expectations also placed on the captain of India as he prepares to lead his first overseas tour there in November, Pietersen added: “I think the job as captain of India and England are definitely on a par.

“I know here and in India you’re under the pump every single day.”