KP puckers up with a triple century
LONDON: Kevin Pietersen hit a superb triple century, a career-best, for Surrey yesterday to offer a reminder of his talents before new England cricket director Andrew Strauss’s first news conference.
Pietersen, sacked by England last year but desperate for a recall, brought up his 300 with his 11th six against Leicestershire on day two of a County Championship Division Two match at the Oval.
At the close Pietersen was unbeaten on 326, having faced 373 balls and racked up 34 fours and 14 sixes during a seven-hour stay at the crease. His knock lifted Surrey to 528/9, a lead of 236.
Strauss’s first job is to appoint a new England coach following the dismissal of Peter Moores, with the first Ashes Test starting on July 8.
Pietersen, 34, may have been encouraged by the departure of Moores, with whom he had a fractious relationship.
Moores was fired in 2009 after his first spell as England coach following a fallout with then-captain Pietersen. But Strauss has also had problems with the right-hander.
Pietersen was dropped after sending text messages about Strauss to South African players during a Test series in 2012. – Reuters
Patrick Compton MORNE van Wyk and Imran Tahir are the only Dolphins players to feature on the shortlist for Cricket South Africa’s annual awards next month.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Van Wyk, who struck an unbeaten century for the Proteas in the final T20 international against the West Indies at Kingsmead last summer, was nominated as one of the T20 cricketers of the year along with David Wiese and Faf du Plessis.
Leg-spinner Tahir, who enjoyed an excellent World Cup in Australasia, taking 15 wickets at 21.53, is a contender to take the ODI Cricketer of the Year prize along with A B de Villiers, Morne Morkel and Hashim Amla.
The function will take place on June 3 in Midrand.
Last year’s Cricketer of the Year, De Villiers, is once again a nominee for the most coveted award, along with Amla, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Du Plessis.
The Fans’ Cricketer of the Year and the Ram Delivery of the Season are both awards in which fans can participate.
For the Fans’ Cricketer of Andrew Puttick (Cobras), Dean (Titans), Robin Peterson (Cobras) Kieron Pollard (Cobras), Eddie (Lions), Richard Levi (Cobras) Hardus Viljoen (Lions), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Stephen Cook (Lions), Dane Paterson (Cobras) Rob Walter (Titans), Geoffrey Toyana (Lions), Paul Adams (Cobras) Theunis de Bruyn (Titans), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), George Linde (Cobras) the Year, fans can SMS the name of their player to 45732.
For the Ram Delivery of the Season, fans can check out either CSA’s Facebook or YouTube pages and watch the insert. You can then vote for your favourite delivery by Hashim Amla, Morne Morkel, A B de Villiers, Imran Tahir
Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk Hashim Amla, A B de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn sending an SMS with the letter A, B or C to 45732.
There will be a draw for two fans to attend the CSA Awards and be part of the presentation. The event will be televised live on SuperSport 2 from 8pm.