Dravid tips pay off for Pietersen

KEVIN Pietersen believes he has ironed out the technical flaws that plagued his preparations for the first Test against Bangladesh.

Potentially more important than Alastair Cook's nerveless hundred was the 99 that heralded the return to form of the side's premier batsman.

He had made just 69 in his previous seven innings in the country but looked close to top form midway through his knock, with some crunching shots down the ground.

His struggles had been put down to a vulnerability against left-arm spin and although Abdur Razzak did eventually account for him, he looked comfortable for long periods.

"Sometimes you hit a patch when you don't know where your next run is coming from and I've had that for the last couple of weeks," he said.

Pietersen has been putting in extra shifts in the nets with team director Andy Flower but yesterday he revealed another source of advice: India batsman Rahul Dravid. "I've had to make an adjustment against left-arm spin," Pietersen said. "I had a long conversation with a friend, Rahul Dravid. He gave me a few tips and I've just got a really nice message from him saying 'it worked'."