Lord’s test may be Pietersen’s last

Wednesday, 08 August 2012 14:42

Written by Editor

South Africa preserved their 1-0 series lead as the second Test with England finished in a draw after a captivating final day at Headingley. The tourists resumed on 39-0, only 33 runs ahead, and skipper Graeme Smith extended his partnership with Jacques Rudolph to 120. Kevin Pietersen removed Rudolph with his second delivery of part-time off-spin and took a Test-best 3-52, while Stuart Broad (5-69) struck with successive deliveries in a spell of 4-12 from 20 balls before South Africa declared on 258-9. It left England needing 253 in 39 overs and they sent Pietersen in to open, but closed 123 short of victory at 130-4 when a draw was agreed at 19:30 BST with six overs remaining. Pietersen, named as man of the match following his first-innings 149, hit three fours in the opening over and a burgeoning crowd sensed something momentous, but he spooned a catch to mid-on from the opening ball of the third over.  Alastair Cook hit a huge six in his 46, and even when he departed in the 18th over with 163 still needed, England sent out Matt Prior at number five. His run-out for seven spelt the end of their attacking aspirations and South Africa now go into the final Test at Lord's on 20th August needing merely to avoid defeat to win the series and depose England at the top of the Test.

After the game Pietersen was invited by Jonathan Agnew on the BBC's Test Match Special to deny whispers that next week's Lord's Test against South Africa might be his last. "I can't give any assurances, no. I love playing Test cricket for England. But there are obstacles in the way," he said.

By the time he reached the post-match press conference an unsmiling Pietersen was determined to be more discreet. But he is not good at that. "Maybe it [the Lord's Test] will be my last," he said. "We will talk after the next Test. Anything is possible."