Pietersen part of 2015 plans - Cook

Kevin Pietersen faces Impotent Four Weeks As He Tries To

Re Establish A Place In England's One-Day Team

Alastair Cook believes Kevin Pietersen can be part of England's 2015 World Cup side and sees it as one of his key roles as captain on the tour of India to help guide a one-day revival for the batsman. Pietersen has returned to the squad for the upcoming series, but doubts remain over his long-term future in the 50-over side after a lean two years in the format and the emergence of talented young batsmen pushing their claims.

Pietersen was rested, officially at least, for the one-day series recent ODIs against India in England, and the two Twenty20 internationals against West Indies that concluded the home season. His place in the Twenty20 team isn't in doubt - he played the game against India at the end of August and was Man of the Series when England won the world title in West Indies in 2010 - but that security doesn't extend to the longer limited-overs format.

"I see Kevin as a huge part of this one-day side, especially in the 2015 World Cup," Cook said at Heathrow airport shortly before the squad departed for India. "He's had huge success in Australia, but we need to manage him well so he can get there."

After he controversially flew home injured from the World Cup, reports emerged that he was planning to retire from ODIs although he subsequently denied those and remains available for all three formats. However, if there was a change of heart from Pietersen it is more likely to have been because he wouldn't have been eligible for a central contract if he quit one-dayers.

His availability, though, doesn't come with a guarantee of selection, as Andy Flower has been at pains to point out, and Pietersen's one-day form of the last two years raises questions as to whether he warrants a place in the side. Since March 2009 against West Indies, his first one-day series since losing the captaincy, he has averaged 22.86 from 32 matches with two half-centuries. His last hundred came against India, in Cuttack, in October 2008 and three of his seven tons came in his first 11 matches. However, he does average 51 in ODIs on Indian soil, which shows he enjoys conditions.

"He's had a tough 12-18 months with his form, this happens when you spend a huge amount of time at the top of the game. It's tough to keep your standards high," Cook said. "I think he still averages very high 40s in Test cricket, so it's amazing to think we are talking about a drop. His last couple of years in one-day cricket haven't been as good as they were in the first part of his career and part of our job as England management is to try and get him back there.

"A KP averaging 50 and striking over 100 is a huge element of an England side and we can't ignore talent like that. He loves proving people wrong."

England have tried various roles to reinvigorate Pietersen's one-day career including using him as an opener during the World Cup. That tactic was short-lived due to the hernia he picked up, but it did provide some momentum to England's innings alongside Andrew Strauss. A return to opening is unlikely with Cook and Craig Kieswetter establishing their partnership, but Pietersen's exact position in the order hasn't been nailed down with Cook hinting at flexibility.

"At No. 3 or 4 is where he's had most of his success," Cook said. "Towards the end of the Sri Lanka series [in June] we talked about being more flexible in our batting line up and we've got the right to do that."

The pressure on Pietersen to retain his place is coming mainly from his own form, but also the emergence of a group of new batsmen pushing for international honours. Jonny Bairstow, who impressed on his debut against India, is part of this tour, while Jos Buttler will join in for the Twenty20 at the end of trip along with Alex Hales. Eoin Morgan, who has taken the mantle of England's key one-day batsman from Pietersen, is out if action until January but will slot straight back in when he's fit and Cook is thrilled with the competition for places.

"You have to perform to stay in an England shirt; like Kevin has to, like I have to, the whole team has to," he said. "You can see from the players who aren't coming on this tour, the competition there is for places and that's a very encouraging sign."

England have two warm-up matches, the first on Saturday, before the opening one-day international, in Hyderabad, on October 14.

Dilley 'an unsung hero' - Border

Allan Border has described Graham Dilley as "one of the good guys" and a forgotten hero of England's 1981 Ashes triumph at Headingley. In a ten-year period Border played 12 Tests against Dilley, who has died at the age of 52, and whose pace and swing, Border said, made him a key man for England during the 1980s.

But it was for his batting in Leeds in 1981 that the Australians most remember Dilley. During one of the all-time great Test matches, Dilley and Ian Botham put together a 117-run partnership for the eighth wicket that gave England the lead after they followed on, and Bob Willis then demolished Australia as they chased 130.

"He's an unsung hero in the 'Botham Ashes', because without him at the other end, Australia [would have won] that game and Botham's heroics [gone] unnoticed, and history [been changed] changed subtly," Border told ESPNcricinfo. "He doesn't get the accolades, but Graham Dilley in that Headingley Test match was a big part of England getting the lead and Botham's heroics. I often said to him, 'You should cop more of the raps, mate!'

"He was a good quality fast bowler, swung the ball away and had real genuine pace. In the mid '80s he was at his best, although I played against him earlier than that, when he was a young tearaway with excellent pace.

"He was very easygoing - not your typical meathead fast bowler. He was a good man to sit down and have a drink with, and a very good competitor. I always enjoyed the contests and then the after-match, sitting down and reflecting on things over a beer. He was one of the good guys."

Against Australia, Dilley took 41 Test wickets at 32.90, and only the offspinner John Emburey claimed more victims for England during the 1986-87 Ashes, when Mike Gatting led his side to victory away from home. The leading run-scorer during that series was Dean Jones, who said Dilley was as quick as most bowlers of the current era.

"He was a quiet fella, but bowled good heat," Jones said. "He was underrated as a bowler at that time. In '86 with Gatting's team he had the new nut and was pretty well supported by Phil DeFreitas and Co, and Gladstone Small, but Dilley was the first guy to worry you. There are not too many guys who are quicker than him going around even now. But you wouldn't hear a bad word against him."

Mohsin Khan named Pakistan interim coach

Islamabad: The Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed chief selector Mohsin Khan as the interim coach for the series against Sri Lanka.

The PCB has been looking for a full-time coach after Waqar Younis quit due to personal reasons soon after winning one-off test, three ODIs and two Twenty20s against Zimbabwe last month.

The test series against Sri Lanka begins in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 18, followed by five one-day internationals and a Twenty20.

The PCB says "Khan will be the coach for the Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka series only."

Former test batsman Ijaz Ahmed was named as assistant coach.

PCB development manager Intikhab Alam heads the three-man committee looking for a new coach. The committee has shortlisted five names, but last week Alam refused to reveal the names.

Spot-Fixing Trail

Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif are being tried in the Southwark Crown Court in London on charges of conspiracy to cheat, and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, following the Lord's Test in August last year when they allegedly conspired to bowl pre-determined no-balls. Here's the full coverage of the trial.