Pietersen backs England batsmen

Kevin Pietersen is all smiles during training yesterday

Kevin Pietersen has challenged England’s batsmen to deliver at the Brit Oval when he begins his reign as captain in the final npower Test.

The Hampshire batsman launched the new England era under his captaincy with a bold selection policy for the final Test of the summer by resisting the temptation to replace Michael Vaughan with another batsman and instead choosing to enter the match with five specialist bowlers.

It is a bold selection with Stuart Broad and Steve Harmison returning for Vaughan and the injured Ryan Sidebottom, but it also puts extra responsibility on a battling line-up.

Pietersen has every faith in the new-look line-up, which includes Ian Bell moving up to his favoured position at number three, Paul Collingwood batting at number four, Andrew Flintoff moving up to number six and Tim Ambrose batting at number seven.

“This is Peter Moores’ and my team,” said Pietersen. “We’ve definitely come together and we had a good chat and it’s a team we’ve both decided on.

“We’re singing off the same hymn sheet here, it’s a positive move, it’s an aggressive move and it’s given the batters the responsibility to go out and get runs.

“I’ve always said the batters need to score the runs and then we’re going to have Freddie (Flintoff) at number six.

“I like Fred at number six. It’s a positive move with Timmy at number seven and then Broad at number eight - it’s not a bad batting line-up when you look at it like that.”

The return of 22-year-old Broad, who was rested for last week’s five-wicket defeat at Edgbaston because of concerns about his recent heavy workload, will definitely strengthen England’s batting line-up.

Stuart Broad struck a measured 76 at Lord's and hit an unbeaten 67 in the second innings at Headingley

Broad has hit half-centuries in each of his last three Tests batting at number eight.

“He’s an interesting character,” confirmed Pietersen. “He’s young, he’s fresh, he’s got great ideas. He thinks cricket and he’s got a great cricketing brain.

“I faced him in the nets and the ball swung for him, he bowled beautifully.”

While Broad’s batting ability has been a bonus for England, there are concerns about his bowling after he claimed only 10 wickets in five Tests against New Zealand and South Africa this summer.

But England’s new captain has cast those doubts aside, claiming: “He’s been a bit unfortunate. There have been plenty of ‘played and misses’ and that happens in cricket.

“You’ve just got to basically get on with it, do your job, not get yourself down and this is just a nice little confidence boost and to have Stuart Broad batting at number eight will trouble a few of their bowlers.”

Pietersen has also confirmed he may bring a halt to the traditional huddle that Vaughan introduced during his reign while he is yet to decide whether to remain in his usual gully position or move to mid-on as a better vantage point for his captaincy.