The best 5 innings by Kevin Pietersen

110 not out v New Zealand, Chester-le-Street, June 2008

Remarkably, given his free-hitting reputation, Pietersen only scored one ODI century in 52 innings on home soil. But that one will go down in history as the one where he debuted the fully-formed ‘switch hit’ in all its glory.

Taking the reverse-sweep one step further, Pietersen chose his moment against Black Caps medium-pacer Scott Styris, changing his grip and stance to reflect that of a left-hander and clobbered a brilliant six.

Just in case anyone failed to appreciate the complexity or innovative nature of the stroke, he repeated the dose soon after. Much debate over the shot’s legality followed, though there were more imitators than bemoaners.

202 not out v India, Lord’s, July 2011

On the grand occasion of the 2,000th Test, and with England needing an emphatic series win to go top of the ICC rankings, Pietersen played a gem at the home of cricket.

It was truly an innings of two parts, his first hundred coming in tricky batting conditions and occupying 215 balls – slower than he had ever moved to three figures before. Having shown unusual pluck in service of the team, he then relocated his muse, scoring another century in just 111 deliveries with 11 fours and a six.

England went on to win the game, series and number one spot.

355 not out v Leicestershire, The Oval, May 2015

The Foxes attack in this unusually high-profile Division Two championship match was not one of the more challenging Pietersen had faced during his career. But, as so often with the mercurial middle-order batsman, he picked his moment with uncanny perfection.

At the time he was trying to resurrect his international chances in a rare first-class stint with Surrey. Naturally, he reeled off the best first-class score of his life, just two shy of the best ever by a Surrey player.

By the time Andrew Strauss, then ECB director of cricket, confirmed the door remained permanently closed, Pietersen had already crafted a storming riposte in over seven-and-a-half hours at the crease. It was the best Kevin Pietersen innings of his career in terms of runs scored.

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