Kevin Pietersen is one of the most aggressive batsman, England has ever produced. He had an incredible career as a test batsman. He appeared in 104 test matches for England and scored 8,181 runs with an average of 47.3. He also got fame for his incredible shot selections. With more than 13,500+ international runs across all formats.
Here we look at the top 5 memorable moments that defined his test career.
1. England vs Australia - Second Test, Adelaide, 2010 - 227
It was the 2nd test match of the Ashes 2010. The first test match of the series was drawn. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. With the help of James Anderson’s great show, Australia only managed a total of 245 runs. In answer to that, England put up a mammoth score of 620/5 with the help of amazing knocks from Kevin Pietersen (227) and Alaister Cook (148). Kevin scored 227 runs in just 308 balls with an astonishing strike rate of 73.70. He hit 33 fours and 1 six in that innings. It was Pietersen's 2nd double hundred. England won the match with an innings and 76 runs. Kevin Pietersen was awarded Man of the Match for his performance.
2. India v England - Second Test, Mumbai, 2012 - 186
This was his last away hundred when he scored 186 against India in Mumbai. It was the 2nd test of England's tour of India in 2012, India won the toss and decided to bat first. In return to India’s 327 in first innings, England scored 413 with the help of 186 from Kevin Pietersen. India lost the match with 10 wickets. In his innings he hit an excellent switch hit against Pragyan Ojha over extra cover.
3. England v Australia - Fifth Test, Oval, 2005 - 158
This was Kevin’s first hundred in test cricket and certainly one of the memorable ones. It was the 5th and last test match of Ashes, 2005 and England were leading the series 2-1. England just needed to draw the match. Australia needed to push for the victory to level the series. Kevin played very fast and hit 7 sixes and 15 fours in his innings of 158. The match was drawn and England won the series.
4. England v Sri Lanka - Second Test, Edgbaston, 2006 - 142
This innings was pure genius from Kevin Pietersen. In response to Sri Lanka’s 141 in the first innings, England scored 295 with the help of Pietersen’s 142. Muttiah Muralidharan had rarely been reverse swept but that day Kevin hit the switch hit on his ball for a six. England won the match with 6 wickets.
5. England v South Africa - Second Test, Headingley, 2012 - 149
The innings itself, studded with 22 fours and a six, contained one particular shot which he later claimed to be one of his two best shots in Test cricket.
In a 2013 interview with All Out Cricket magazine, he recalled the moment. “In terms of shots, there was one shot off Dale Steyn where I pulled him through mid-wicket, which will probably rank up there as one of the two best shots I’ve ever played.
