Curse continues for Pietersen

The curse of the left-arm spinner returned to haunt Kevin Pietersen in the final Test in Dubai only hours after he insisted he had eradicated the weakness from his game.

Pietersen was beside himself with frustration as he was adjudged leg before to Abdur Rehman for 32 as he showed glimpses of form for the first time in the series. The decision by the umpire, Simon Taufel, could not have been more marginal and left Pietersen passionately bemoaning his misfortune with England's coach Andy Flower.

"I have an average of 37 against left-arm spin - it's not a train crash," Pietersen told Sky Sports before the third Test as England tried to stave off their first Test whitewash against Pakistan.

"It's been made into a media thing," Pietersen said. "It is something I've had to live with. I used to have a flaw but I sorted it out. Left-arm spinners have bowled me the most balls on the tour."

Pietersen called for a review after a prolonged discussion with his captain, Andrew Strauss, who was at the non-striker's end, but umpire Taufel's decision was upheld by the narrowest of margins as Hawk Eye suggested the ball would have shaved leg stump.

It was all too much for Pietersen who since the advent of DRS must feel that he is defending two sets of stumps, not one. The number of lbw decisions in Tests in 2012 are running at an all-time high.

Pietersen put the shift in the balance of power down to the time when Sachin Tendulkar was give out lbw to Monty Panesar on the front foot in a test in Nagpur six years ago. The decision brought Panesar his first Test wicket and caused him to slalom through the slips in delight.

"As soon as Aleem Dar gave Sachin Tendulkar out to Monty Panesar, Test cricket changed," Pietersen said. "I have had to change the way I play because of DRS.I am a big guy and a few years ago I was able to push well forward and never get out."