Pietersen satisfied with England's day one progress
Pietersen satisfied with England's day one progressKevin Pietersen reflected on a satisfying day for England after their most positive start to an Ashes series for years. Although the loss of Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff and Matt Prior late in the evening session, the hosts closed on 336 for seven against Australia in Cardiff.
"I think if you look at the first day of previous Ashes series, we would take 336 for seven definitely," Pietersen said after topscoring with 69. "Being greedy, you would maybe say 'five down'. But with a wicket that is turning off the straight, I will take that."
Pietersen conceded he and Paul Collingwood (64) might easily have gone on to bigger scores on the back of their fourth-wicket century stand - but absolved all others of any blame.
"I think I missed an opportunity; Colly maybe had a lapse of concentration; Matt Prior plays like that that is what we want from him, a Gilchrist-like innings. It was absolutely brilliant from him," he said.
Prior (56) shared an exciting sixth-wicket partnership of 86 with Andrew Flintoff, but both fell to the second new ball before the close.
"To see those guys go out positive, hit the new ball hard and get after their bowlers for 20 minutes or half-an-hour was fantastic," added Pietersen.
