KP hungry for improvement

Kevin Pietersen looks out over the pavilion balcony at his former ground © Getty Images

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Kevin Pietersen is backing England to ensure a happy homecoming for him at Kingsmead by claiming a crucial victory over New Zealand to stay on course for the ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals.

Successive defeats to Australia and South Africa have deflated the optimism surrounding England when they arrived a week ago, fresh from their outstanding NatWest Series triumph over India.

It has left them needing victory in their final two matches against New Zealand and India to be sure of qualification for the last four this weekend.

On current form, an England win seems unlikely having struggled throughout the 19-run defeat by the hosts, while New Zealand began their Super Eights campaign with an emphatic win over India.

But as Pietersen prepares to play his first international innings at his former home ground at Kingsmead, he is confident England can respond to the crisis by producing a performance in front of his family.

“Tomorrow (Tuesday) is a day when we all need to turn up and function at 100 per cent,” stressed Pietersen, England’s best batsman so far in the competition.

“There’s nothing we can do to change what happened against Australia and South Africa, but hopefully there are a few guys who have learnt from their mistakes, we can build on that and give New Zealand a real run for their money - I’m sure the guys will turn up hungry to win because if we lose then we’re off.”

Pietersen has been England's best batsman © Getty Images

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Since their arrival in South Africa, England only have a win over Zimbabwe to show for their efforts.

“What we need to do now is win four games and if we do that we win the tournament.” he stressed. “Tomorrow (Tuesday) is a huge game for us and it’s a game we’ll be targeting to hopefully play our best cricket.

“We came into this tournament straight off an aeroplane and two days later we played Zimbabwe and three days after that we played the world champions.

“It’s been a pretty tough start for us - in seven days we’ve played No 1 and 2 in the world and unfortunately been on the receiving end. Hopefully we’ll hit our straps and come out and have to beat India to get a semi-final here in Durban.”

England may not have been in this situation had Pietersen not been run out in controversial circumstances when he collided with Shaun Pollock attempting a quick single for 15 and was unable to regain his ground.

Some believe Pollock may have deliberately blocked off his path to the crease, but Pietersen claimed: “I’ve seen it now on replays several times and it looks like Polly got in my way and people may say it looks deliberate but I know Shaun and he’s not that kind of cricketer.

Pietersen was run out in controversial circumstances on Sunday © Getty Images

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“Not for one second did I think he obstructed me or that he did it deliberately. It happened in a split second and if I’d have been facing the right way I’d have probably run around him.

“There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s bizarre, but freakish dismissals seem to happen to me all the time. I’m not complaining or moaning because it’s cricket and it could happen so many more times in my career.”

Having had his return to Kingsmead ruined by rain last time around - he was next man in when the rain fell during the one-day series in South Africa two years ago - Pietersen is more keen than ever to make amends this time.

Watched by his family, who still reside in Durban, Pietersen is desperate to make his mark against New Zealand although he does admit that he regards this format of the game as “a lottery.”

Pietersen said: “Twenty20 is something that’s totally different to one-day cricket. You can plan your innings in 50-over cricket and do so many things in your preparation but Twenty20 is a lottery.

“I think Twenty20 cricket is hit and miss big time. It’s something where on any given day you’re going to get a bloke from any team who can destroy you.

“Brendan Taylor did it against Australia, Mohammad Ashraful did it against West Indies to send them home - I don’t think you can ever turn up and say you’re definitely going to beat any opposition.”