NOTTINGHAM // Kevin Pietersen's start to his reign as England captain could hardly have gone better - yet it is about to get another boost, according to the man himself. Pietersen has led England in two completed matches since replacing Michael Vaughan as permanent captain and has collected two victories and two man-of-the-match awards.
His 14th Test hundred was the key component of victory over South Africa at Lord's earlier this month and an unbeaten 90 along with two wickets at Headingley helped open up a 1-0 advantage in the one-day NatWest Series. "The start has gone very well for me personally, but from a captaincy point of view, the players have been absolutely brilliant," said Pietersen. "All the guys have created such a good environment.
"You never know how people will take the change on, but it has been taken on by everybody in such a positive manner. "I have just tried to drum into them the way I want us to play and they have accepted that in the best possible way." And England will welcome back the former captain Paul Collingwood for the second match of five at Trent Bridge today especially after losing Ryan Sidebottom to a groin injury.
The fast bowler did not play in the last two Tests and the first one-day international and has been ruled out of the remaining four matches. England had already called up Steve Harmison to replace him, so are unlikely to call up a fresh recruit. Collingwood, 32, is likely to replace either Luke Wright or Ravi Bopara. "The team definitely strengthens with Colly coming back in," Pietersen said. "He will bat at six, bowl his medium pace and field at backward point, and he has 150 games of one-day international experience. So to have him back with the ability he has got, and that kind of experience, is an extra boost as well."
South Africa are hoping to get the Morkel brothers back as soon as possible, and both gave their fitness trials in practice yesterday. The fast bowler Morne Morkel (side strain) bowled half-a-dozen overs in the Trent Bridge nets yesterday while all-rounder Albie Morkel continues to struggle with a right shoulder injury. The former is more likely to make it for the day-nighter. Meanwhile, Marcus Trescothick has revealed in his book that England used peppermint sweets to swing the ball in their 2005 Ashes triumph.
Trescothick, who retired earlier this year after battling a mental illness, said it was his job to shine the ball and which helped the likes of Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones deliver unplayable reverse swing. * PA Sport TV, ShowSports 2, 4 pm