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KP sets sights on Ashes
Afp, London
New England captain Kevin Pietersen looked ahead to next year's Ashes series against Australia after his team beat South Africa by six wickets on the fifth day of the fourth and final Test at The Oval Monday."If we play like we played this week we're going to beat Australia," he said. But he warned: "It's going to take a lot to do it. This is a one-off, it's a very exciting stage, but the most important thing is to turn up to every Test match like we did this week."Pietersen said a key was to get the structure of the team right and make sure players knew their roles long before the Australians arrived. In the meantime there were tough tours coming up to India and the West Indies.He said he wanted to continue with a policy of picking five bowlers, with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff at number six in the batting order."It's the way I definitely want to play cricket in the future," he said.Pietersen said the England players had been "brilliant" in the way they approached the Oval Test and he had special praise for recalled fast bowler Steve Harmison."He is huge for us. I'm definitely going to get the best out of Steve."He had even spoken to Harmison about reconsidering his decision to retire from one-day international cricket.South African captain Graeme Smith praised England for the way they had played but admitted that his team had not been on top of their game after clinching the series in the third Test at Edgbaston."The emotion we felt after Edgbaston was always going to be difficult to re-invent," he said. "We'd play well for an hour and then lose our way a bit. Even though we almost got ourselves back into the game a few times we were just lacking that oomph we had in the other games."South Africa's 2-1 series win put them in second place in the official Test rankings behind Australia.South Africa tour Australia at the end of the year and Smith said a successful tour there would be a fitting climax after a year in which South Africa have beaten Pakistan and England away and shared a series in India.Smith said the series win in England had been the highlight of the most successful season we've had."This is the one that has meant the most to us. It's taken a very long time to get hold of the trophy. The confidence we've gained and the lessons we've learnt is important going into Australia."England openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook set up Monday's win with a century partnership. Strauss (58) and Cook (67) put on 123 to take England a long way towards their target of 197.Four wickets fell cheaply but after such a start there was never any real doubt that Pietersen's first match as captain would end with a win.Cook was the senior partner as he and Strauss laid the foundation for their team after a cautious start. Only 11 runs were scored in the first 11 overs as Makhaya Ntini bowled accurately and Morne Morkel erratically.When the total was on nine a plan to dismiss Strauss almost worked.Ashwell Prince was moved to leg slip, with Morkel bowling around the wicket. Strauss, on four, obliged by glancing the ball straight to Prince but umpire Aleem Dar called no-ball because Morkel had over-stepped.There was a wobble for England when Ntini came back into the attack after lunch and had Cook caught at first slip by Smith.Ian Bell was bowled by Ntini when he went across his stumps and left his leg stump exposed and he was followed two balls later by Strauss, caught at leg slip by Smith off bat and pad.Pietersen and Paul Collingwood took England within 15 runs of the target but Pietersen, who made a century in the first innings, was denied the satisfaction of being at the crease when the winning runs were scored.The England captain was caught off bat and pad at short leg by Neil McKenzie off Harris for 13. Andrew Flintoff joined Collingwood and ended the match with a straight six off Harris.
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR
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