I love the big occasion: Pietersen

LONDON - Kevin Pietersen, who roared back to form with an unbeaten 213 during the second Ashes Test Sunday, feels the innings has put an end to his lean trot that briefly cost him a place in the One-day side.

It was Pietersen’s first hundred for England after 19 months.

Peitersen, after scoring the memorable double hundred against arch-rivals Australia at the Adelaide Oval on the third day, said the “bad stuff” is behind him now and he is looking forward to winning the Test match.

“It has not been the best time. You go through your career and have good stuff and bad stuff. I have had a lot of good stuff fortunately but a little bit of bad stuff. Fortunately that has gone now and I look forward,” Pietersen was quoted as saying by

The Telegraph.

“I love the big occasion and challenging myself against the best players in the world. It has been pretty tough over the last 18 months and this is a challenge for me to really look forward to and I love the fact it is going so well out here. I set myself high standards.

“To get 80, 90, 99s or 50 and 60s does my head in. It was great when that ball went down to fine leg (when he got to three-figures) but the state of game was one where someone had to continue playing with a level head and we know we needed to carry on and make sure today was a day where we batted all day to put us in a great position to win this Test match.”

Pietersen had to wait in the dressing room for a combined 11 hours before getting out on the crease. The flamboyant batsman found the waiting more tiring than his marathon effort in the middle.

“I found it more tiring waiting to bat than batting for this long today,” he said.