Image courtesy of: The Guardian
“I’ll probably look back on it when I’ve finished my career and see it as something quite special”
Despite admitting that it was “surreal” to be on the verge of completing his 100th Test match, England batsman Kevin Pietersen has conceded that “talking about 100 Test matches is a weird feeling for me personally”.
Pietersen will play his 100th Test match when England take on Australia in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Pietersen will become only the tenth Englishman to accomplish the feat and the South African-born batsman revealed that he had learnt a lot since his Test debut, which came during the 2005 Ashes series.
“I’ve got to be confident in my ability,” Pietersen said. “As a South African coming to England, I had to really fight some tough battles and had to be single-minded in achieving what I’ve had to achieve – I can’t help people thinking I’m arrogant.
“I think a lot of great sportsmen out there have that little bit of something to them that makes them try and be the best and want to be the best.
“I call it confidence. You guys (media) call it arrogance, it makes for better headlines.
“I think as a person, you grow when you make mistakes. We’ve all made mistakes in all our lives.
“That’s when you learn the most, and if I hadn’t learned I wouldn’t be sitting (here) on the eve of my 100th Test match.
“The good has been good; the bad has been bad. There has been some really good stuff, and I’ve really enjoyed the journey. Where my career is at now, I don’t think I can be any happier. I’m incredibly happy.”
Pietersen is still stunned by the fact that he has been given the opportunity to represent England in 100 Test matches.
“It’s quite surreal actually,” he said. “Talking about 100 Test matches is a weird feeling for me personally.
“If you look at what happened last week with Sachin, saw in the rugby with Dan Carter and saw Lampard in the football – these are the kind of guys I look up to and wish I was.
“As a young kid, you grow up and see all these superstars. When it’s you yourself…I’ll probably look back on it when I’ve finished my career and see it as something quite special.
“But at the moment I just see it as the start of an important Ashes series. It’s one we’ve come to win.”
The 33-year-old was also quick to dismiss rumours that he will be retiring after the upcoming Ashes series and instead stated that he would “love” to represent England in the 2015 World Cup and score 10,000 Test runs.
“Fortunately with this side we’ve won everything,” he said. “We’ve won a T20 World Cup, we’ve won Ashes home and away, we’ve won in India.
“The World Cup 2015 is something I’d love to have a go at with England. I’ve (also) got home and away hundreds against each country apart from South Africa.
“Our tour to South Africa is 2015-16. If the old man can survive until then, I’d like to get there.”