Pietersen vows to keep hitting big

14 April 2012

Kevin Pietersen said he will continue to play aggressively against Australia despite his errant sweep during his side's emphatic collapse in the second Test in Adelaide last week.

Pietersen, who looked imperious in scoring 158 in the first innings, went for two after five balls in his second knock as he swept round a wide delivery from Shane Warne which turned wickedly and bowled him behind his legs.

But Pietersen, preparing for the third test at the WACA in Perth starting on Thursday, said: "I look to score first before I defend.

"I thought it was there in my area and I just missed it, so I'm not really too fussed. We're allowed to miss balls occasionally."

Pietersen said although he rated Warne as one of the finest bowlers to have played the game, he tried to close out who was actually delivering the ball.

"I don't really play Shane Warne as Shane Warne, I play a cricket ball - it is the cricket ball that gets you out."

Pietersen admitted England had been rocked by their fifth-day capitulation which leaves them trailing 2-0 in the five-match series and needing at least a draw and two wins to retain the Ashes they won so memorably in 2005.

"The boys have been put through their paces massively today and from the first ball that was bowled this afternoon it was 90mph plus," he said of Tuesday's training session.

Australian paceman Brett Lee told reporters he was eager to reprise the form that undid England so spectacularly in Adelaide.

"I couldn't have bowled any better than that, even though I only got two wickets," said Lee, who produced vicious reverse swing in his final day spell.

But Lee fears the Perth track may again favour the batsmen after run-fests in the opening two matches in Brisbane and Adelaide.

"I'm expecting it to be very slow, as it has been over the past couple of years," the 30-year-old said.

"If there's enough carry for the quicks then everyone's happy. It's important there's enough there for the quicks."

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