Kevin Pietersen as we all know is more than just a talented batsman. It’s his willpower and determination that makes him one of most phenomenal players in modern cricket. The South-African born player has had his ups and downs but his self-motivation and love for the game has always kept him ranked among the best in the world.

Kevin Pietersen had a dramatic beginning to his carrier. He was barred from playing for South Africa but came and played for the English side. He announced himself as one of the most gifted batsmen. In just a year after his debut, he was the top ranked batsman in the rankings. In England’s miserable 2007 Ashes tour to Australia, Pietersen solely performed for England and was considered as a threat against the likes of Shane Warne.

He proved his worth to everyone and was even given the command of the English team. But being an egoistic guy by nature, he left captaincy because he has never welcomed unwanted criticism. His style of batting is an attacking one as he never wants the bowler to dominate. At times, he becomes over-aggressive and loses his wicket. But when he gets settled, he almost always takes England to victory.

England have really done their homework well for the one-dayers. Pakistan were the obvious favorites for the ODIs but strangely, they have struggled throughout the three matches played. Credit must be given to Alastair Cook for his brilliant captaincy and even more brilliant batting. Cook has been dominating the Pakistani bowlers and has scored 313 runs in three innings which includes 2 centuries and a fifty, making him average more than a hundred. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first today. Pakistan’s batting has been under scrutiny and it has been vividly noticed that Pakistani batsmen lack the confidence and patience to chase totals. Today Pakistan had the chance to score first and then take advantage of their in-form bowlers. Pakistan miserably failed to do so. On a batting friendly pitch, Pakistan kept losing wicket after wicket.

The openers started sort of decently as Anderson struggled to get his line right in the first couple of overs. Imran Farhat however was the first one to go for 9 runs off Steven Finn’s bowling as he nicked one to the keeper as Pakistan lost their first wicket for 22. In came Azhar Ali and this time Broad got him nicking another one to the keeper for 5 runs. Steven Finn has improved tremendously in his bowling. The way he nips his deliveries from outside the off-stump to middle and leg-stump is probably what the Pakistani batsmen struggle to play most of the times. Asad Shafiq joined a well settled Hafeez on the crease but their partnership couldn’t bore any fruit as Hafeez got trapped LBW in the following over from Stuart Broad for a cautiously made 29. Pakistan were struggling at 49 for 3 and Captain Misbah Ul Haq had to settle things for a struggling Pakistani batting line-up. But he too succumbed to the strong English fast bowling attack as Broad got him for just 1 run; Pakistan out of nowhere were 50 for 4.

Pakistan, a Country that is undoubtedly God Gifted when it comes to producing Natural and Quality Fast bowlers. Ever since the team has started playing International Cricket it has been blessed with Fast bowlers that have attained high levels of success and recognition around the world wide. As a 22 year old, I have been very proud of the quality fast bowlers I have seen bowling for Pakistan. Following the sport since 1998, I have been amazed by the left arm magician Wasim Akram, the man that has made even the greats of the game speak words of generous applause about him. Michael Holding rates him as the "Best Ever Left Arm Fast Bowler" to play the game. Former Australian World Cup winning Captain Alan Border wants to be born again as Wasim Akram and rightly so, Wasim Akram has done wonderful things for Pakistani Cricket. His Allround performances in the 1992 World Cup played a main role in Pakistan winning that tournament. Through out the 1990's Wasim Akram was at his prime best and produced some magical deliveries that are still remembered and praised by those who appreciate quality cricket. His great times continued as he led a very talented bunch of players into the final of the 1999 World Cup in the U.K. Unfortunately Pakistan lost the final, however Akram's men dominated that World Cup, so much so that the 1999 World Cup team was considered as one of the best Pakistani team to ever play. Akram went onto become the first bowler in the history to pick up 400 and 500 ODI wickets, the tournament in which he achieved this feat the 2003 ICC World Cup, was the last time Akram played internationally and retired after serving 19 quality years for Pakistan at the international level.

A fourth cricketer in the past four monrhs has been ent to British jail for spotfixing, Mervyn Westfield, admitted to taking 6000 pounds to concede a specific number of runs in a 40 over county match aganst Durham. Yesterday, at his trial at a British high court, he was sentenced to four months jail time. His defence, admitted that Dnish Kaneria, the Pakistani leg spinner who started playing for Essex in 2005 was the one who persuaded Westfield to take the money.