England's limited-overs coach Ashley Giles has hailed star batsman Kevin Pietersen for setting a 'great example' to the one-day team's novice players.
According to News.com.au, Pietersen is the only 'star name' left in the squad for the ongoing one-day series against Australia, with England resting regular captain Alastair Cook, batsman Ian Bell and bowlers James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann ahead of their Ashes defence in Australia starting in November.
Stating that he knows Pietersen well as he had played a lot of cricket with him, Giles said that he has a 'decent relationship' with Pietersen, whom he called as one of the best players in the world, adding that Pietersen enjoys the responsibility of being a senior figure in a largely inexperienced squad.
According to Giles, Pietersen, who averages nearly 50 in Tests and 42 in ODIs, has a good relationship with his younger teammates despite his often-bad reputation in public, adding that although there was a danger of clashes with his personality, Pietersen has been fully involved with the team.
However, Giles said that he is not concerned even if Pietersen preferred to open as the decision to install him at the top of the order in Manchester had been his alone and not the batsman's, adding that Pietersen has got two hundreds and a 60 in his last three innings as an opener.
