5 times Kevin Pietersen rescued England across formats
Kevin Pietersen, one of England's most celebrated sportsmen, officially called time on his professional cricketing career following his involvement in the Pakistan Super League this year. A glorious – yet controversial – international career saw him represent his country in 104 Tests, 136 ODIs and 37 T20s, including being the Man of the Tournament in England's only global tournament win - the T20 World Cup in 2010.
Sportskeeda revisits 5 of his rescue acts across formats in national team colours, though many more innings – like the 186 at Mumbai, 2012; the 227 at Adelaide, 2010 et al – would rank among the best modern day knocks by an English batsman.
#5 158 vs Australia, The Oval 2005
Brief Scores: England 373 (Strauss 129, Flintoff 72; Warne 6/122) and 335 (Pietersen 158; Warne 6/124, McGrath 3/85) drew with Australia 367 (Hayden 138, Langer 105; Flintoff 5/78) and 4/0 (Hayden 0*, Langer 0*)
Australia had already got a taste of newcomer Kevin Pietersen, who batted with freedom and was not afraid to attack even Shane Warne. At The Oval, with England three down early in the second innings and the urn at their disposal, Pietersen began calmly, and was put down at slip by Warne on 15 – Steve Waugh would have approved that Warne “dropped the Ashes” – after which commenced a carnage with the visitors being blown away with one big hit after another.
Brett Lee, the unfortunate bowler when Pietersen was dropped, was targetted by the youngster, who hammered boundaries and towering sixes at will; as if to rub salt into the wounds, Warne was dispatched to the stands twice in the over immediately after giving Pietersen a life. A memorable first Test ton of 158 – laced with 15 fours and 7 sixes – dug England out of a hole and resulted in a rain-affected draw, thus bringing back the urn after 16 years following a 2-1 series win.