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Cricket

Flintoff hails influence of captain Pietersen

01/09/2008

Andrew Flintoff believes the inauguration of Kevin Pietersen as England captain has changed the dressing room dynamic for the better.

Speaking after the home side demolished South Africa for the fourth consecutive one-day international at Lord's on Sunday, the Lancashire all-rounder said Pietersen's influence has had a positive effect on the team.

Many pundits questioned the South African-born middle-order batsman's ability to take on the mantle of the captaincy, which had suffocated the batting form of both his predecessors - Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood.

But Flintoff, who scored a match-winning 31 not out off just 12 balls to continue his blistering recent form, said Pietersen had given the players a new-found belief in themselves.

"The dressing room is different now," he said.

"KP is confident and that rubs off on us all."

The 30-year-old added: "We had some great times with Michael [Vaughan], but this dressing room is slightly different.

"As long as we keep working hard, I'm sure we can be a successful team."