Sun, Nov 07 10 01:16 PM
England batsman Kevin Pietersen believes he is back to his best form just at the right time with the Ashes series against Australia just a couple of weeks away.
The mercurial 30-year-old was dropped by England for the Twenty20 and one-day series against Pakistan in September after a poor run of form.
A spell playing back in South Africa, the land of his birth, had rejuvenated him, Pietersen said, and his 58 was England's top first innings score in the three-day tour match against Western Australia in Perth.
"I've never really been a technical player. I play like a clown," he told England's official website (www.ecb.co.uk)
"It's just my mental approach that I needed to change, just get a load of confidence back, and I'm on fire at the moment.
"I'm looking forward now, I'm not interested in what's gone. I'm very happy with what's happening at the moment.
"I came back from South Africa for a couple of weeks, and I feel top drawer again," he added. "I hope there's plenty more to come this winter."
An in-form Pietersen would be a massive boost to England's bid to win a first Ashes series in Australia since 1986-87 and successfully defend the tiny trophy.
"I love playing in Australia," he said. "I had some really good success here personally last time.
"I got 500 runs at (an average of) 55 but I'd take 350 and an Ashes victory, that's for sure.
"I've been pretty fortunate to play three Ashes, and won two of them. I'd love to go three-four. We've got a very, very good unit at the moment -- very happy in all our roles in the team."
England play another three-day match against South Australia in Adelaide and a four-dayer against Australia A in Hobart before their Ashes defence begins in Brisbane on Nov. 25.
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