Pietersen: Twenty20 to boost ODIs

Kevin Pietersen predicts ODIs will be more exciting thanks to Twenty20 cricket

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Kevin Pietersen believes the massive explosion of interest in Twenty20 cricket will have a positive impact on the 50-over form of the game.

Pietersen expects average one-day international totals to grow in the near future as batsmen expand their repertoire and become more daring.

Improved batting and fielding techniques were in evidence at Old Trafford yesterday as England romped to a nine-wicket victory against New Zealand in the NatWest Twenty20 International.

And Pietersen also suggests the Twenty20 influence could lead to Test matches reaching earlier conclusions as batsmen show more inclination to live and die by the sword.

He said: “What it could also do is speed up your 50-over game and people could score 400 runs regularly. What Twenty20 will do is speed up all parts of cricket because guys are going out there to entertain, to score a lot quicker.

“There may be a lot more four-day Test matches possibly and a lot more 400 scores in 50-over games.”

England start a five-match NatWest Series of 50-over games against the Kiwis at Durham tomorrow looking to avenge a 3-1 reversal in the winter.

And Pietersen is quick to praise the strength of New Zealand in that form of the game after defeating them in the Test and Twenty20 battles of the past two months.

“New Zealand have a fantastic one-day side. I don’t know why we have beaten them so convincingly in Twenty20. In three games we’ve hammered them,” he added.

“At the top of the innings, (Brendon) McCullum is a serious player on his day. He can look dreadful on other days. Guys like (Jamie) How hit the ball in good areas and play aggressive cricket.

“I think a big difference will be the absence of Jacob Oram (hamstring). But then you’ve got guys like (Ross) Taylor, (Daniel) Vettori - who is world class, a one-day bowling attack which is underrated.

“(Kyle) Mills is number five or six in the world in one-day bowling. He bowls 82-83mph and puts it on a penny. They have a very disciplined one-day team and their fielding is exceptional.”

Pietersen confirmed he will bat at number three during the series but England could be without opener Alastair Cook tomorrow.

Andrew Strauss has been called up as cover in case Cook’s shoulder problem means he cannot be considered for the match.