Zeecric Bureau
London: Even though Kevin Pietersen has made his way back into the team, it is still difficult for him to grab the opening place in the England batting order, so feels team-mate Graeme Swann.
Pietersen incurred Achilles tendon injury during the second Ashes Test in July, for which he also had to undergo a surgery. It is since then that the former England skipper has been missing international cricket.
However, KP will now join his team in South Africa on Wednesday for a two-and-a-half month tour of the country.
After a spectacular display in the Champions Trophy and a bright start to this tour in Pietersen’s absence, the England selectors are finding it difficult to fit the batsman back into the team.
Pietersen’s absence paved way for Eoin Morgan and Jonathan Trott who performed relatively well in the recent past, thus, threatening the position of the former in the squad, admits Swann.
Morgan’s 34-ball 67 in the Champions Trophy against South Africa has already impressed the selectors. Apart from that, he also scored 67 in England’s warm-up victory against Eagles last week. Meanwhile, Trott scored a well-made 85 in the same game and also scored his debut century in the last Ashes Test.
“I don’t think it’s a squad that’s sitting there desperately hoping that other people turn up because I think we’re all getting on well, we’ve got a very positive outlook and we’ve had some good performances,” Swann told PA.
“So Kev’s just going to add to that, I don’t think he’s going to change it. You never know, he might even have to fight for his place when he gets here.”
Andrew Flintoff’s frequent injuries have helped England to adopt to a playing format sans the key players, says Swann. “Whenever you lose one or two of your big players, everyone else has got to step up to the plate and perform,” Swann added. “Last summer they did, that last Test match everyone was saying that it had to be Andrew Flintoff’s massive last game and it was Stuart Broad who took the limelight - he stepped up to the plate.
“We can’t be reliant on one or two players, that’s unhealthy for the team and unhealthy for English cricket. Thankfully at the minute, everyone’s chipping in in their own respective areas, which is a more healthy state to be in.”
England play their final warm-up match against South Africa A in Bloemfontein on Tuesday ahead of two Twenty20 internationals against South Africa at the weekend.
