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ADELAIDE: The best feeling for Kevin Pietersen in winning the second Ashes Test was walking into a jubilant England dressing room after his bitter Adelaide memories of four years ago.
Man-of-the-match Pietersen hit a majestic Test best 227 and captured the vital wicket of Michael Clarke with his part-time spin in England's devastating innings and 71-run romp over Australia on the fifth day Tuesday.
Pietersen still recoils at the thought of England's collapse in the 2006 Adelaide Test when he scored 158 in England's first-innings 551 for six declared only to lose by six wickets.
“The best feeling is walking into the dressing room having won this Test match,” Pietersen said.
“Four years ago was a very horrible dressing room to walk into, very quiet dressing room, a very negative dressing room and not as united as the dressing room is at the moment.
“Individual performances add to a team victory and I think the team victory today is incredible, it's the best feeling no matter who takes the wickets or gets the runs.
“A victory in Australia -- I haven't had one -- Straussy (skipper Andrew Strauss) hasn't had one in Test match cricket, it's a great feeling but we're not going to get complacent because we know as soon as complacency sets in, it bites you.
“It's been a long time coming because a few players have been in nick and a couple that have been out of nick, and I can honestly say that all of our players are in nick at the moment.”
Rated one of world cricket's most destructive batsmen in full flow, Pietersen broke through for his first Test century in 28 innings since his 102 against the West Indies at Port-of-Spain in March last year.
He also became the fifth Englishman to score a double century in Australia, joining teammates Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood, Walter Hammond (3) and Reg Foster.
Pietersen scored his double-century off 308 balls with 34 fours and a booming six off hapless spinner Xavier Doherty.
“I'm very happy where I'm at at the moment, where I'm at in the team, and very happy with Straussy and the job he's doing and what (coach) Andy Flower's doing,” said
Pietersen, who quit as England captain last year after a public spat with former coach Peter Moores.
“It's been absolutely amazing, and such a happy place to be.”
