Pietersen ready for a run spree

Kevin Pietersen is backing himself to emerge from one of the quietest periods of his Test career to join England's growing list of century-makers against Pakistan.

Pietersen is yet to make a 50 during his three innings during the series while Alastair Cook, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss have claimed centuries and both Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar have grabbed five-wicket hauls. But as England attempt to claim the victory which would seal a series triumph in the third Test at Headingley, which starts on Friday, Pietersen insists he is not getting worried about his run without a major innings.

"I've missed out in two Test matches now, so it would be nice to get some runs," he conceded. "It would be nice to get a hundred and I know I'm training and doing everything I'm supposed to do to prepare as best I can. If it happens it happens, but if it doesn't I'm sure it's around the corner somewhere."

Such are the high standards that Pietersen keeps, the last time he suffered such a run - he has gone six innings without reaching 50 - he ended that sequence in style.

Having gone through an identical run against Australia last summer, Pietersen responded with a brilliant 158 to help seal the return of the Ashes in the final Test at The Oval.

He started this summer with equally eye-catching back-to-back centuries against Sri Lanka at Lord's and Edgbaston and now he is hoping to add to his century tally at Headingley.

"I did get consecutive hundreds a couple of months ago so I'm not going to put loads of pressure on myself saying I have to get this or that," he stressed.

"I've been speaking to (Yorkshire bowler) Matthew Hoggard about Headingley and he says it has been a very good wicket all season. Hopefully it's a good batting track, but with some bounce in as well like it was at Old Trafford."