We're not claiming to have mystic powers or anything (predicting the winning lottery numbers still sadly eludes us), but in our preview of the Lord's Test we suggested that Kevin Pietersen was the England player to look out for.
We wrote:
"Kevin Pietersen likes the big occasion and it doesn’t get much bigger than this – the 2000th Test against the best side in the world at Lord’s. Don’t be surprised if KP marks the occasion with a sparkling hundred"
Ok, we didn't get the sparkling bit right as KP's unbeaten 202 was a real workmanlike innings. He was like a cat on a hot tin roof against Zaheer Khan on Thursday and perhaps fittingly he nearly used up all his nine lives before he finished with a flourish taking only 25 balls to go from 150 to 200.
Pietersen now has three Test double centuries. The only other England batsmen (see full list here) to have achieved this are Wally Hammond (who reached the milestone an incredible seven times) and Len Hutton (who did it four times). That's pretty good company for KP to be keeping.
Given the circumstances in which Pietersen got to 200 yesterday, we doubt it will be the last time he does this for England. This innings will act as an inspiration to him every time he is struggling at the crease and thus spells danger for opposition bowling attacks.
Where next?
Cricket Heroes: Wally Hammond
Zaheer Khan: He came, he saw, he conquered....he got injured
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Good call, sir! The second hundred was almost run a ball. And me being an Indian "supporter" (that's as far as I would take it...wouldn't be disappointed if England wins), that was just a delight to watch - dismissed Kumar (it was a good contest though), switch hits Harbhajan, a hilarious battle with M.S. Dhoni and rightly puts Raina in his place with a six back over his head.
All that jazz about Trott, Cook and Bell and here's this guy who carries on when they fail to do so.
Posted by: AB | Saturday, July 23, 2011 at 22:06