5 memorable innings of Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen, the legendary English batsman said goodbye to cricket. He has been one of the most effective batsmen England has ever witnessed.

His presence on the field always added glamour to the game and has been a remarkable top order batsman in all the formats of the game.

Pietersen has played 104 Test matches in his career and scored 8181 runs at a sensational average of 47.28.

He has scored 35 half centuries and 23 centuries in his Test Career. His highest test score was 227 against Australia in the Ashes 2010-11.

Pietersen has also played 136 ODIs and scored 4440 runs at an astounding average of 40.73. His ODI best score is of 130 against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

We all are aware about the hard-hitting skills of Pietersen. His T20I statistics clearly reflects about his aggressive batting. He has played 37 T20Is and scored 1176 runs at a thunderous strike rate of 141.51.

He has scored over 30000 runs in his professional career which consists of numerous centuries.

Let's have a look at five of his best innings.

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#5 227 vs Australia (2010)

Pietersen's 227 powered England to a comprehensive win over Australia

It was the second test of the Ashes 2010-11. The first match had ended in a draw and Andrew Strauss and co. was looking forward in order to grab the first victory.

Australia had batted first and were bowled out for 245 which gave England a slight lead in the game.

England were out to bat with their head high but lost the wicket of their captain in the early stages of the innings.

Strauss was in a splendid form at that time and thus an innings was required which could take England to a strong position.

The job was done by the partnership of Pietersen and Alastair Cook (148) for the fourth wicket.

Pietersen moved on to score 227 runs which took England to a very strong position. England won the match by an innings and 71 runs. Pietersen was adjudged as the Man of the Match.

Later on, England won the Ashes 2010-11 by 3-2.

#4 110* vs New Zealand (2008)

Pietersen cemented his place in the squad with this knock

It was the first ODI of the Natwest ODI Series. New Zealand were in a very good form during that period and was considered to be the favourites to win the series even though they were playing as the visitors.

England batted first and lost the wicket of Luke Wright in the early stages of the game. Wright had played few incredible innings in the tour of New Zealand.

Pietersen didn't deliver any promising performance during the New Zealand tour and he had to live upto the expectations of the team in order to cement his place in the team.

In the initial stages of his innings, he struggled with the bounce of the wicket but due to his maturity and calmness, he moved onto score 110 runs and remained not out.

England had set up the target of 308 for New Zealand and in return the visitors were bundled out for 193. This was a memorable innings for Pietersen as he got back into form from this knock.

#3 130 vs Pakistan (2012)

Pietersen guided England over the line against Pakistan

It was the fourth ODI of England tour of UAE. England had already won the series by winning three consecutive matches.

Pakistan were all-out for only 237 and England were looking forward to a whitewash in the series.

Pietersen and Cook opened the innings for England. England lost Cook in the early stages of the innings and the Pakistani bowlers didn't make any English batsman comfortable except for Pietersen.

He was playing his shots but on the other end, the wickets were falling rapidly. Pietersen had the responsibility of carrying his team over the line and secure a whitewash. He moved on to score 130 runs and England won the match by four wickets.

#2 158 vs Australia (2005)

Pietersen scored his first test hundred in the Ashes 2005-06

It was the first Ashes for Pietersen. Pietersen had a bright start to the series, but was slowly fading away. He had to prove his credibility in the last innings of the series in order to remain in the English Squad.

It was the last innings of the series and England were 126 for the loss of five wickets and were in a desperate need of a top innings. Pietersen had scored 14 runs in the first innings and all the responsibilities were on his shoulders.

England needed at least a draw to win the Ashes, whereas Australia desperately needed to win in order to retain the urn.

While wickets were falling on the other end, Pietersen moved onto score his first Test hundred.

His knock of 158 helped England to draw the Test Match and win the Ashes after 18 years. Pietersen was also awarded the Man Of The Match award for his brilliant knock.

#1 113 vs Australia (2013)

Kevin's knocks would be remembered forever in English cricket

It was the third test of the Ashes and England were leading by 2-0. Australia was a very unpredictable team and the English team wanted to avoid them from making a way back into the series.

Australia scored 527 in the first innings and declared. England was out with only one intention and that was to draw the game.

Their plans did not work properly in the innings till the time Pietersen came into bat. England was constantly losing wickets and were in need of strong innings to stabilise the situation.

Pietersen scored 113 runs for the team which lead the match to end into a draw. Pietersen scored 12 fours and two sixes in the innings. Pietersen and Bell's partnership steadied the ship for England as they secured a draw in the test.