You are in > manchester.com  > News > KP: England can beat anyone

Cricket

KP: England can beat anyone

11/08/2008

England's Test cricketers can beat any side when at their best, new captain Kevin Pietersen has said.

His comments came after a six-wicket consolation victory over South Africa in the final Test of the summer at the Brit Oval in London.

Pietersen won the man of the match award and England man of the series award for his strong batting performances. His first-innings 100 gave the home side an advantage which proved unsurpassable.

"After all the commotion… I think the boys have all pulled together. I cannot have asked of anything more of all those guys who turned up for us this week," he said.

"We've tried our hardest but at the start of this little era I cannot ask for anything more."

Pietersen praised the South Africans, admitting the 2-1 series scoreline was right, and said he believed the recalled Steve Harmison should have taken the man of the match medal.

"I couldn't have asked for more from the big man," he said of Harmison, who took 4-134 and hit 49 not out in the game.

Having replaced Michael Vaughan at the end of the summer Pietersen must wait until December before the next Test, but he remained upbeat.

"We showed this week that if we hit our straps… we can beat anyone and we did a good job this week."