Video: Mitchell Starc relishes taking Kevin Pietersen's wicket in third Ashes Test

Kevin Pietersen, England batsman: (On if England are approaching safety in the test match)

“Safety if not winning the test match. We’ve seen today the wicket is still pretty good and I didn’t know there was any weather around, but it’s a good enough wicket to try and still get enough out of this game. If our ‘engine room’, as we like to call it, apply themselves tomorrow and we get as close as we can to their score, there’s no reason why we can’t. We put a lot of work into their big, fast bowlers today”

Mitchell Starc, Australian fast bowler: (On taking Kevin Pietersen’s wicket)

“It’s always nice to get a big scalp and it’s always nice to get Kevin (Pietersen) as well.” (Laughs)

Kevin Pietersen, England batsman: (On his fitness and injury concerns)

“I’m just an old man, I’ve just got sore calves, sore hamstrings. I’m fine.”

Mitchell Starc, Australian fast bowler: (On the wicket)

“It’s nice to bat on, but there’s enough there when the ball is moving off the straight. We looked off it very well to have it going naturally for awhile and then to make sure we had it going reverse as well. I think that’s going to be key to make sure we can get as many wickets as we can when it’s doing that. Going into days four and five, it’s already turning a fair bit, so I think it’s going to be key for the spinners, obviously Graham Swann and Nathan Lyon, to take as many wickets as they can as well.”

Kevin Pietersen, England batsman: (On consistently doing well against Australia)

“It’s Ashes cricket I suppose. It’s the big stage, I like performing on the big stage, when the team needs me I like to stand up to be counted. As an English player or as an Australian player your career is defined on how you play Ashes cricket.”

Mitchell Starc, Australian fast bowler:

“I think things are going to happen pretty quickly in the last two days. It’s showing signs of more and more turn and it’s only going to turn more heading into the backend of the test. Things are going to happen quickly in the third and fourth innings, but like you said there’s a few wickets to get yet, but we’re up for the challenge.”