Faulkner, KP set to go head-to-head

Kevin Pietersen is set to play his first County Championship game since scoring 355no and being told he wasn’t in England’s plans for the summer.

Pietersen injured his calf during his career-best knock earlier this month and was forced to pull out of a planned stint with Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad, but has declared he will be fit to take on his Melbourne Stars teammate James Faulkner in the top-of-the-table clash between Lancashire and Surrey starting today at The Oval.

Faulkner and Pietersen haven’t shied away from regular banter on Twitter since the former England skipper joined the Stars last year, and the Aussie allrounder didn’t miss a chance to start the mind games before their Division Two encounter.

Siddle dismissed Pietersen in Test cricket more than any other bowler, but is now with the Australian Test squad in the Caribbean after claiming 18 wickets in four matches for Lancashire.

After his Rajasthan Royals were knocked out of the IPL playoffs, Faulkner joined the Red Rose to replace the Australian fast bowler in hope of finding some form in the longer format and eventually adding to his solitary Test match.

“I haven't played red ball cricket for a fair while consistently because of how much one-day cricket I have been playing for Australia,” Faulkner told the Manchester Evening News earlier this week.

“I want to play red ball cricket, Test cricket is the pinnacle for me but I haven't had much opportunity over the last few years, I have probably only played three of four games and it is hard to get some consistency doing that.”

The 25-year-old made a low-key start to his time in England, scoring 7 and taking 1-31 from four overs in Friday’s loss to Derbyshire in the domestic T20 competition.

While the national Test team prepares to retain the Ashes away from home for the first time since 2001, Faulkner is one of a number of Aussies looking to press their claims during the English summer.

The World Cup champion could only manage two completed first-class matches during the summer, making it difficult to display the form that led to his selection in the fifth Test of the 2013 Ashes series in the UK.

“The Ashes is on everyone's mind, but for me it is pretty simple what I have to achieve if I am to play Test cricket and that is to score runs and take wickets,” said Faulkner.

“I haven't had the opportunity to do that and press my claim for a place in the Test side, people have leapfrogged me. This is now a chance for me to play red ball cricket.

“I have sort of forgotten about whether I am going to be picked for the Ashes.

“For me it is purely about getting runs and wickets for Lancashire, just like it is when I play for Tasmania.

“And playing county cricket is something I have always wanted to do.”