Last updated: 28th August 2008
Pietersen: winning start as captain
One of my biggest challenges is to get everyone to play to their potential and fulfil their talent.
Kevin Pietersen
Quotes of the week
England captain Kevin Pietersen knows his side are a long way from the finished article despite his early success in the job.
Pietersen has led England to wins over South Africa in the fourth Test and first two NatWest Series matches since suceeding Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood, in Test and one-day cricket respectively.
The South African-born batsman is hoping that the most recent of those victories, last Tuesday's 10-wicket demolition at Trent Bridge, is a glimpse of the future.
And it was the level of performance from man-of-the-match Stuart Broad, who claimed 5-23 to help skittle South Africa for 83, that Pietersen is keen to see replicated in other areas of the team.
"One of my challenges that I have set myself is to get all of the players playing to the best of their talents," Pietersen told Sky Sports News.
"There has been a lot of people who (in the past) have underperformed, not played to their potential and not stood up when needed.
"Stuart Broad took his opportunity at Trent Bridge and there are now plenty of players who want to now start standing up to be counted.
"We always talk about the talent we have in the dressing room, but it's never really been put onto the field.
"So far over the last three weeks, the boys have turned up and been pretty impressive - it's just a case of keeping that going."
| Fixture |
|---|
| Sunday 5th July |
| Test Match First Test Match |
| Sri Lanka vs Pakistan |
| Friends Provident Friends Provident Semi Final |
| Lancashire vs Hampshire |
| Sussex vs Gloucestershire |
| One Day Int Fourth Match |
| West Indies vs India |
| Women's ODI 4th Match |
| England Women vs Australia Women |
| Monday 6th July |
| U-19 Test Series 1st Match |
| England Under 19 vs Bangladesh Under 19 |
| Tuesday 7th July |
| County Championship - Div 1 |
| Warwickshire vs Sussex |
| County Championship - Div 2 |
| Northamptonshire vs Derbyshire |
| Essex vs Glamorgan |
| One Day Int First Match |
| Scotland vs Canada |
| Result |
|---|
| Saturday 4th July |
| Tour Match |
| England Lions vs Australia Match Drawn |
| Varsity Match |
| Oxford UCCE vs Cambridge UCCE Oxford UCCE won by 6 wickets. |
| Friday 3rd July |
| County Championship - Division One |
| Somerset vs Yorkshire Somerset won by 4 wickets. |
| Nottinghamshire vs Lancashire Match Drawn |
| Durham vs Worcestershire Durham won by 5 wickets. |
| County Championship - Division Two |
| Middlesex vs Surrey Match Drawn |
| Kent vs Gloucestershire Kent won by 76 runs. |
| Derbyshire vs Leicestershire Match Drawn |
| Friendly Match |
| Warwickshire vs England Match Drawn |
| One Day International Series |
| West Indies vs India India won by 6 wickets. (Revised target - Duckworth-Lewis system) |
Read what Sky Sports' experts and bloggers have been talking about over the last seven days in sport...
With the Ashes close, Benedict Bermange reveals how the recent vernal equinox could inspire England.
Matt Prior's catching will be reliable in the Ashes, says Alec Stewart, as his style is less contrived now.
Ricky Ponting says he is happy with the way Australia have prepared for the Ashes, which starts with the first Test on Wednesday.
England look set to field five front-line bowlers in the first Ashes Test against Australia.
Australia's final Ashes warm-up ended in a draw as the England Lions batted out the final two sessions at New Road.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 292 on the opening day of the first Test but hit back with two late wickets as Pakistan closed on 15-2.
England team director Andy Flower insists Andrew Flintoff didn't deserve to be dropped for missing the trip to Flanders.