Pietersen brushes aside fitness issues with 'breezy' half-century for England in tour game

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has proved his fitness for next week's Ashes opener with a nice half-century for his team as they closed on the Cricket Australia Invitational XI's first innings total in their tour game.

According to Sport24, Jonathan Trott (83) and skipper Alastair Cook (81) also spent valuable batting time in the middle, as England's top order fine-tuned for the first Test at the Gabba, reaching 302 for five at the close on the second day of the four-day tour match in Sydney. At stumps, Joe Root was 26 not out and Jonny Bairstow was unbeaten on 11, the report said. England trailed by just two runs on the first innings after Steven Finn earlier staked his claim for the first Test fast bowling vacancy, finishing with five wickets for 103 to help dismiss the home side for 304 midway through the first session, the report added. Pietersen looked scratchy early in his innings as he nicked a couple short and wide of the slips and hesitated on occasions when running between wickets with partner Cook, the report further said.

However, he appeared physically unencumbered during his 93-minute stay at the crease to further boost England's confidence ahead of the Ashes, according to the report. He smashed seven fours and two sixes and almost seemed as if he was trying to get out when he skied leg-spinner James Muirhead (2-97) into the outfield, the report mentioned.