India’s Yuvraj Singh said Wednesday he was keen to renew his rivalry with Kevin Pietersen on the upcoming tour of England after being called a “pie-chucker” by the England batsman a few years ago. “I know that guy well and I am really keen to throw some more pies at him and others around him,” Yuvraj told the Indian Express newspaper.
“And if my pies can contribute and get Pietersen’s and some other valuable wickets, I would be really delighted.” The Indian batsman and left-arm spinner, who returned to the squad for the England tour after recovering from injury, was called a “pie-chucker” by Pietersen during a home Test series in 2008. One-day specialist Yuvraj, in and out of the Test squad since making his international debut in 2000, said the tour would be an opportunity for him to cement his place in the team for the longer-format. “Test cricket is one area I would like to improve and do well. I want to be a permanent member of the Test side and I know that won’t be easy,” said Yuvraj, who has so far played 274 one-dayers but only 34 Tests.
“I will do whatever I can do to strengthen my Test records. The England tour will be one of the biggest challenges in my career but in every challenge there is an opportunity and that’s how I would like to see things from here.” Yuvraj said the four-Test series, starting at Lord’s on July 21, would be highly competitive as the Ashes-winning England side would be hard to beat on home soil. “England is a very good team and of late they have achieved some tremendous results as a Test side, so beating them at home would be a big task,” he said.
“But we also have a very good and experienced side to combat them. Our overseas record also has improved a lot in the recent times. I am sure this is going to be a very competitive series.” India named a full-strength squad, with batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, and pacemen Zaheer Khan and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth returning after missing the ongoing Test series in the West Indies. India, who won their last Test series in England in 2007 under Rahul Dravid, will also play five one-day internationals a one-off Twenty20 match during the tour.
