Pietersen feels he can be a smash with Flintoff

David Bond, Deputy Political Editor @djbond6873|Evening Standard|In Durban

14 April 2012

Michael Vaughan can't wait to pair Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen in his one-day team - and neither can the two players.

Flintoff is back home recovering from the ankle operation that should allow him to bowl flat out against Australia this summer. But it is the prospect of Flintoff and Pietersen batting together that sends tingles of excitement through English cricket.

Captain Vaughan spoke about the huge "hitting power" he can expect to have at his disposal after watching Pietersen score that record-breaking, 69-ball century against South Africa in East London on Wednesday.

Well, Flintoff has been taking note, too. "I got a text message from Freddie saying hopefully we can do some damage together," said Pietersen as he prepared for today's sixth limited-overs international on what used to be his home ground of Kingsmead. "That sounds pretty cool to me. I can't wait to stand at the other end and watch him bang it.

"I've seen a lot of cricket on TV with Freddie smashing it everywhere and I wouldn't mind watching him from the other end. He's a great player and hits the ball a lot further than I do."

It will be down to Vaughan and coach Duncan Fletcher to decide how England can best use Flintoff and Pietersen during this summer's one-day games with Australia and Bangladesh.

Should they try to get the pair batting together as often as possible or keep them a few places apart in the order so that opponents are dreading what is still to come?

Tricky, but a great dilemma for England to have. It won't be long, either, before the selectors will need to decide whether Pietersen should be rushed into the Test team as well.

One-day cricket clearly requires a different approach to Test match batting, but every run Pietersen scores in the short form of the game is adding to the clamour for England to pick him as often as possible.

For the moment, though, the 24-year-old is only interested in trying to help his new team-mates to square this series by winning today and then again in Sunday's final contest at Centurion Park.

Pietersen, who was born in Pietermaritzburg just 45 minutes by car from Durban, has been booed and called a traitor at all the grounds during this seven-match series, but the abuse seems to have done him more good than harm.

"I like a challenge, perhaps these crowds could come to England," he says mischievously.

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