AND batsman Kevin Pietersen is refusing to take no for an answer as he races to be fit to board the plane for South Africa.<br /><br />The 29-year-old has been frustrated by setbacks in his recovery from Achilles surgery and has not played since the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in July.<br /><br />But he is hoping to recover in time for the November tour, which will feature two Twenty20 matches, five one-day games and four Tests.<br /><br />“I am trying to get as fit as possible as quick as I can. I have had a few setbacks and I am really frustrated,” said Pietersen.<br /><br />“It will be a couple of weeks before it totally heals over – the next 10 to 14 days – then I can start working really hard.<br /><br />“The time scale is difficult but I will definitely be doing everything I can to get on that first plane to South Africa which is at the end of October.”<br /><br />England arrive on 1 November, with the limited overs series beginning on 13 November and the first Test on 16 December, and Pietersen admits being available for the start will be touch and go.<br /><br />“I might be a few days off that but I will certainly be in the Test squad. The one-dayers I’m really pushing for, but the Twenty20s might be a rush,” Pietersen added.<br /><br />With South Africa heading the current world Test rankings and lying third in the one-day equivalent,England will be desperate to have their most potent batsman available.<br /><br />And the Pietermaritzburg-born star has the added incentive of playing against the country of his birth.<br /><br />He added: “For obvious reasons, it’s a very important tour for me. Also for the team, after the Ashes to take the momentum forwards. We want to have our best team out there.”
AND
AND batsman Kevin Pietersen is refusing to take no for an answer as he races to be fit to board the plane for South Africa.<br /><br />The 29-year-old has been frustrated by setbacks in his recovery from Achilles surgery and has not played since the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in July.<br /><br />But he is hoping to recover in time for the November tour, which will feature two Twenty20 matches, five one-day games and four Tests.<br /><br />“I am trying to get as fit as possible as quick as I can. I have had a few setbacks and I am really frustrated,” said Pietersen.<br /><br />“It will be a couple of weeks before it totally heals over – the next 10 to 14 days – then I can start working really hard.<br /><br />“The time scale is difficult but I will definitely be doing everything I can to get on that first plane to South Africa which is at the end of October.”<br /><br />England arrive on 1 November, with the limited overs series beginning on 13 November and the first Test on 16 December, and Pietersen admits being available for the start will be touch and go.<br /><br />“I might be a few days off that but I will certainly be in the Test squad. The one-dayers I’m really pushing for, but the Twenty20s might be a rush,” Pietersen added.<br /><br />With South Africa heading the current world Test rankings and lying third in the one-day equivalent,England will be desperate to have their most potent batsman available.<br /><br />And the Pietermaritzburg-born star has the added incentive of playing against the country of his birth.<br /><br />He added: “For obvious reasons, it’s a very important tour for me. Also for the team, after the Ashes to take the momentum forwards. We want to have our best team out there.”
AND batsman Kevin Pietersen is refusing to take no for an answer as he races to be fit to board the plane for South Africa.<br /><br />The 29-year-old has been frustrated by setbacks in his recovery from Achilles surgery and has not played since the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in July.<br /><br />But he is hoping to recover in time for the November tour, which will feature two Twenty20 matches, five one-day games and four Tests.<br /><br />“I am trying to get as fit as possible as quick as I can. I have had a few setbacks and I am really frustrated,” said Pietersen.<br /><br />“It will be a couple of weeks before it totally heals over – the next 10 to 14 days – then I can start working really hard.<br /><br />“The time scale is difficult but I will definitely be doing everything I can to get on that first plane to South Africa which is at the end of October.”<br /><br />England arrive on 1 November, with the limited overs series beginning on 13 November and the first Test on 16 December, and Pietersen admits being available for the start will be touch and go.<br /><br />“I might be a few days off that but I will certainly be in the Test squad. The one-dayers I’m really pushing for, but the Twenty20s might be a rush,” Pietersen added.<br /><br />With South Africa heading the current world Test rankings and lying third in the one-day equivalent,England will be desperate to have their most potent batsman available.<br /><br />And the Pietermaritzburg-born star has the added incentive of playing against the country of his birth.<br /><br />He added: “For obvious reasons, it’s a very important tour for me. Also for the team, after the Ashes to take the momentum forwards. We want to have our best team out there.”