'Phenomenal' Flintoff thrills Pietersen

23 August 2008

Andrew Flintoff accepts the applause after scoring his first ODI fifty in over a year

Kevin Pietersen hailed the return of "superstar" Andrew Flintoff following his first significant innings of the summer, which helped England secure victory over South Africa in the opening match of the NatWest Series.

Captain Pietersen was happy to shrug off his own man-of-the-match display, which included an unbeaten 90, two wickets and a hand in a crucial run-out, during England's 20-run day-night victory at Headingley Carnegue to focus on the return of Flintoff as a world-class all-rounder.

Flintoff contributed a superb 78 off 70 balls - his highest one-day international score in nearly three years - towards a 158-run stand with Pietersen that helped England reach 275 for four and then claimed 2-46 as South Africa were dismissed for 255.

It was his most consistent display since returning from ankle and side strain injuries this summer and helped maintain England's remarkable change of fortunes since Pietersen was made captain.

"The man is a superstar," said Pietersen. "Some people are born into this world who are just superstars and the ability he has with that cricket ball when he bowls is just second to none. It's absolutely phenomenal.

"He can bowl in practice with one arm and still hit a length and I'm fortunate to have a bloke like that who I can ask to knock the stumps over at the death. He bowls those kind of deliveries at the death - he's brilliant."

Flintoff's innings was also his first half-century since scoring an unbeaten 72 against New Zealand in Hobart more than a year ago, while last night's triumph also marked a successful return to one-day international cricket for Steve Harmison.

The Durham fast bowler claimed 2-43 from 10 overs only 24 hours after agreeing to reverse his decision of two years ago to retire from ODIs.

England's new captain confirmed 29-year-old Harmison would be available this winter and believes his comeback can only strengthen the one-day options.

Steve Harmison marks his return to one-day cricket with the wicket of Graeme Smith

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"This is the stage he belongs on, not playing for Durham in front of 34 people,” said Pietersen. “He should be playing in front of 34,000, 40,000 or 50,000 - that's where Steve Harmison belongs.

"Steve wants to play for England. He wants to play on the biggest stage, which is where he's performing on at the moment."

For all Pietersen's delight at England's display to claim a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, he is all too aware of their habit of starting series well only to fade and suffer convincing defeats - as they did earlier this summer against New Zealand.

But he has called on his side to maintain the momentum when they regroup for the next day-night encounter against South Africa at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

"There's some really positive stuff happening in English cricket at the moment but there's no point getting ahead of ourselves because we start every series well," Pietersen added.

"We always win the first game and then mess the next four up. The key to this victory is to make sure we focus on Tuesday and we turn up on Tuesday with the same energy, the same buzz and the same confidence."

South Africa captain Graeme Smith conceded his team had been outplayed but denied they were lacking motivation following their historic achievement in winning their first Test series on English soil since 1965.

"I don't think the guys being up for it was a problem,” he admitted. “We just lacked a little bit of skill and we were outplayed in a lot of departments.

"We kept our side in the game with the energy and intensity but our skill levels weren't quite where they needed to be and they have been over the last two years."