Pietersen rebuilds his confidence

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND // Kevin Pietersen is determined to rebuild his confidence after falling short of his first Test century in 23 innings as England continued to dominate Pakistan at Edgbaston. Pietersen was dismissed for 80 as England were 251 all out on day two of the second Test. The tourists missed five chances to get rid of Pietersen, who also survived a dead-ball controversy.

Salman Butt, the Pakistan captain, then registered their sixth duck of the match as they crawled to 19 for one in 17 overs to remain 160 behind at stumps. "My confidence has taken a big whack," Pietersen said on Sky Sports 1. "I just wanted to go out there and play well, I've practised really hard going in to the Test match. "My confidence has taken a bit of a hit in the last 18 months or so but I'll fight back.

"You've just got to really keep working hard, no matter how well you're playing. "I suppose I did have fair amount of luck but those are the things." Pietersen also apologised for his part in the dead-ball controversy. It happened when he pulled away to the leg-side just as Mohammad Asif reached his delivery stride, after being distracted by movement behind the bowler's arm. Unfortunately he decided to play a shot after all - and chipped an easy catch to Butt at mid-off.

Marais Erasmus, the umpire, signalled dead ball by the time the catch had been taken. Butt was nonetheless convinced Pietersen should have been out - and although Law 23.3 fell well short of appropriate clarification, it suggested at least that the Pakistan captain had a point. "I probably shouldn't have hit it," Pietersen added. "I apologise if I caused any issues. Instinct took over." * PA