Controversial batsman and personality Kevin Pietersen can be sure to look forward to a battle of psychology as well as cricket when he takes to the field on Thursday for the First test against India. Cricket has for years been a source of some great personality clashes on and off the pitch, and the upcoming series is sure to be no different.
Conflicts at a personal level will come as nothing new to Pietersen, having already been involved in some fantastic, if not occasionally petty, confrontations with some of the world's biggest cricketing personalities. Just as it should be in sport, Pietersen's ongoing competition with Australia's Brett Lee is an example of one of the great sporting rivalries, with good sportsmanship and surprisingly witty banter at the heart of it all.
The difference this time, however, is that India will be walking through the Grace Gates on Thursday with a certain Yuvraj Singh plotting his very own intimate battle with Pietersen, apparently this time with no care for friendship.
2008 saw Pietersen famously refer to Yuvraj as a "pie-chucker", to which the Indian did not take too kindly. India's world cup hero has apparently set his sights on revenge. "I would definitely want to get back at Pietersen", said Yuvraj, "I am willing to play some tricks on him". These tricks he speaks of are yet unknown, but it is apparent that the mind games have already started, and Pietersen should be prepared for a personal contest as well as a hard-fought series.
The question as to whether it should be Bresnan or Broad to take the new ball at Lords will no doubt be a matter of debate long into the series. But with Yuvraj fully fit and apparently taking no prisoners, if Broad is chosen he will find it difficult to forget the six deliveries he saw disappear back over his head in 2007. Yuvraj will be eager to live up to the title of India's world cup hero, whilst also looking to settle some scores at a personal level. Watch out Pietersen, and reinforce those windows Matty Prior, Yuvraj is in town.
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