England batsman Kevin Pietersen acknowledges his mistakes, but insists he has no regrets as he approaches his 100th Test match in the Ashes opener in Brisbane tomorrow.
England’s most talked-about cricketer will reach a century of caps at the Gabba, when Alastair Cook’s tourists begin their bid for a fourth consecutive Ashes series success.
Pietersen will become just the 10th England player with 100 or more Tests to his name but it nearly did not happen for the South Africa-born batsman because of last year’s breakdown of a working relationship with then captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower.
Only a period of reintegration ensured Pietersen’s return for last winter’s tour of India, and he has since added a historic series victory there and last summer’s Ashes success to his CV.
Pietersen did not seek to hide away from his lows as well as his highs. The former include sending text messages about Strauss to his compatriots in the South Africa touring team, at a time in summer 2012 when differences with his employers at the England and Wales Cricket Board had become intractable.
Pietersen said: “When you’re riding the crest of a wave and everything’s going really well for you, it’s hard to learn. But when you make mistakes in life, business, anything, that’s when you learn. If I hadn’t learned I wouldn’t be sitting here on the eve of my 100th Test match.”
The 33-year-old holds no grudges against those who have chronicled his turbulent yet brilliant career, warts and all.
“I think with the way I’ve played, certainly against the norm, I was clearly going to be identified and targeted. I’ve had to back it up on the field and I’ve had fun. It’s been a great journey. Where my career is at now, I don’t think I can be any happier. I’m incredibly happy.”
As he stands on the verge of joining an elite group, Pietersen can scarcely believe the company he is about to keep.
Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement after his 200th Test three days ago, and centuries reached by England footballer Frank Lampard and New Zealand rugby player Dan Carter spring to his mind. “I sit here now still not believing I’ve got 100 going in the bank,” he said.
“It’s quite surreal. Talking about 100th Test matches is a weird feeling. If you look at what happened last week with Sachin, the rugby and Lampard in the football – these are the kind of guys I look up to and wish I was.”
He is pinching himself, but is determined not to be deflected from the job he has to do over the next six weeks and beyond. “I’ll probably look back on it when I’ve finished my career and see it as something quite special,” he said.