England coach Andy Flower is "very excited" about Kevin Pietersen's performance despite the gifted batsman's latest failure against left-arm spin.
England completed a superb innings and 14-run win in the first Test in Cardiff after bundling out Sri Lanka for a mere 82 in the tourists' second innings in under two extraordinary hours at Sophia Gardens on Monday.
It was also strange to see Pietersen contribute just three runs in England's of 496 for five declared. He was the only batsman to score in single figure.
For Pietersen, who was lbw to Rangana Herath, it was the 19th occasion in Tests the South Africa-born batsman had fallen to a left-arm spinner.
"It is obvious he has had his issues," commented Flower. Despite KP scoring an Ashes double hundred in Adelaide six innings ago, he finds himself in a situation where knives seems to be out for him.
However, Flower, himself a quality batsman while representing Zimbabwe - said he is certain Pietersen's willow will start talking again.
"I will be perfectly honest with you, I am very excited by what I see from KP at the moment," he said.
"I think he's on the verge of being a very heavy scorer again. I love the way he's training and I know when he transfers that to the middle he's going to be a very heavy scorer," said Flower.
He added: "I envisage him having a great summer for England."
With regard to Pietersen's inconvenience at playing the likes of Herath, Flower said: "He's had his obvious battles playing left-arm spin but he is aware of them and is working hard at them."
He went on: "When he was out in Bangladesh, he scored a very, very fine Test century (Pietersen actually made 99) against at least two left-arm spinners. He worked hard in the nets there on his method against left-arm spin and he played them very comfortably."
"Since then, he has had a few ups and downs, but I don't envisage this problem continuing," Flower added ahead of the second of the three-Test series against Sri Lanka starting at Lord's on Friday.
Reacting to suggestions that Pietersen is saving the big one for the series against India, later in the English season, Flower said: "There is no time for keeping runs back. Lord's will do nicely!"
Meanwhile Flower was still coming to terms with England's astounding win in Cardiff where it seemed rain, which washed out play before lunch on Monday, the last day, would condemn the contest to a draw.
"We thought there was just a three or four percent chance of us winning if we took a few early wickets with the new ball," Flower said after fast bowler Chris Tremlett led the attack with four wickets in the absence of the injured James Anderson.
"But it was definitely the way to go, rather than let the game peter out to a boring draw," he insisted.
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England completed a superb innings and 14-run win in the first Test in Cardiff after bundling out Sri Lanka for a mere 82 in the tourists' second innings in under two extraordinary hours at Sophia Gardens on Monday.It was also strange to see Pietersen contribute just three runs in England's of 496 for five declared. He was the only batsman to score in single figure.
For Pietersen, who was lbw to Rangana Herath, it was the 19th occasion in Tests the South Africa-born batsman had fallen to a left-arm spinner.
"It is obvious he has had his issues," commented Flower. Despite KP scoring an Ashes double hundred in Adelaide six innings ago, he finds himself in a situation where knives seems to be out for him.
However, Flower, himself a quality batsman while representing Zimbabwe - said he is certain Pietersen's willow will start talking again.
"I will be perfectly honest with you, I am very excited by what I see from KP at the moment," he said.
"I think he's on the verge of being a very heavy scorer again. I love the way he's training and I know when he transfers that to the middle he's going to be a very heavy scorer," said Flower.
He added: "I envisage him having a great summer for England."
With regard to Pietersen's inconvenience at playing the likes of Herath, Flower said: "He's had his obvious battles playing left-arm spin but he is aware of them and is working hard at them."
He went on: "When he was out in Bangladesh, he scored a very, very fine Test century (Pietersen actually made 99) against at least two left-arm spinners. He worked hard in the nets there on his method against left-arm spin and he played them very comfortably."
"Since then, he has had a few ups and downs, but I don't envisage this problem continuing," Flower added ahead of the second of the three-Test series against Sri Lanka starting at Lord's on Friday.
Reacting to suggestions that Pietersen is saving the big one for the series against India, later in the English season, Flower said: "There is no time for keeping runs back. Lord's will do nicely!"
Meanwhile Flower was still coming to terms with England's astounding win in Cardiff where it seemed rain, which washed out play before lunch on Monday, the last day, would condemn the contest to a draw.
"We thought there was just a three or four percent chance of us winning if we took a few early wickets with the new ball," Flower said after fast bowler Chris Tremlett led the attack with four wickets in the absence of the injured James Anderson.
"But it was definitely the way to go, rather than let the game peter out to a boring draw," he insisted.
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