Friday, July 06, 2007

Prior tips Pietersen to find form

Kevin PietersenEngland wicket-keeper Matt Prior has backed Kevin Pietersen to return to form in the deciding one-day match against West Indies on Saturday.

Pietersen has managed just 77 runs in two Twenty20 and two one-day innings against the tourists this summer.

"When he doesn't score runs for a couple of games, people start talking about a crisis," said Prior.

"I'm sure he'll score a brilliant hundred very soon - and it might even be on Saturday."

Sussex gloveman Prior, who scored 52 in a losing cause at Edgbaston on Wednesday, added: "Kevin is a fantastic cricketer, a champion who will become a legend of the game."


Chanderpaul is very experienced and I don't think any vocals from behind the stumps are going to affect him

England wicket-keeper Matt Prior


Meanwhile, Prior admits Edgbaston centurion and man-of-the-match Shivnarine Chanderpaul could decide the destination of the series.

The Windies left-hander has passed 50 in each of his seven Test and one-day innings so far but is struggling with a right ankle injury and will undergo a fitness test on Friday.

"I've spent most of the summer looking at the back of his bat," Prior said.

"He's a fantastic player and he's showed that time and again in the past few weeks. You must take your hat off to him.

"We have plans when we bowl to him but sometimes you must allow for someone playing well. His concentration seems unbreakable and he's just so stubborn.

"He wants to bat and bat, he never gets bored. He's having one of those purple patches that the top players go through.

"He's very experienced and I don't think any vocals from me from behind the stumps are going to affect him.

"I don't think I can get into his head, he's unflappable. All we can do is to continue working on our plans and hope we get him out early on Saturday."

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