KP backed to come good in South Africa (From This is Hampshire)

KP backed to come good in South Africa

7:50am Thursday 10th December 2009

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Graham Thorpe believes Kevin Pietersen is just one innings away from re-producing the kind of performance that saw him tear apart South Africa in 2005.

The Hampshire batsman made his return from a four-month Achilles lay-off when he turned out for England in their second Twenty20 international against the Proteas last month.

Pietersen played in the first two Ashes Tests this summer before succumbing to the injury, which he aggravated in the Indian Premier League earlier this year.

The Natal-born batsman announced his arrival on the international stage four years ago when he returned to the country of his birth to score three centuries for England in a series which England eventually lost 4-1.

Pietersen has struggled to reproduce anything like that kind of form this winter, however, with the 29-year-old failing to pass 50 in his six innings so far – including a modest 25 in yesterday’s match against a South African Invitational XI out of a total of 142-3.

With the first of four Tests starting next week, there are suggestions that Pietersen will struggle to deal with the Proteas’ seam attack, but Thorpe is not worried.

“Once he gets into an innings he’ll be fine,” said Thorpe.

“It could be in one of these warm-up games. He only needs one score – a 50 or 60 with two or three hours at the crease just to really focus his mind again.

“That’s all a person like him needs. He’s a big match player with a lot of quality and you just feel that when he does get back he won’t be lacking strength or desire against South Africa, that’s for sure.”

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