KP admits England took their foot off the gas

A week ago, Paul Collingwood's side were brimming with confidence following two thumping Twenty20 victories. But there is no doubt the momentum has swung New Zealand's way.

"I can't put my finger on what has happened but we all think we are good enough to beat New Zealand. We did it twice in three days," was Pietersen's first take on recent events.

Scroll down for more

Eyeing a big score: Kevin Pietersen is dismissed for 29 in the second one-dayer

But when asked whether the team might have relaxed after their easy Twenty20 successes, he conceded: "That could have happened. Maybe, subconsciously, we did think it would be a pretty decent series in terms of results.

"Now we have got our backs against the wall, maybe because we took our foot of the gas. I don't think we all did that but now it's a case of turning this series around."

Some "honest words" had been spoken after the 10-wicket hammering in Hamilton, where England were bowled out for 158 before Kiwi openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder roared to victory in only 18.1 overs.

"The dressing room wasn't a special place to be the other night," Pietersen said. "But what's gone is gone. We've got three games left and we have to win them all."

England are almost duty-bound to make changes tomorrow, with Ravi Bopara, Graeme Swann and Jimmy Anderson all under threat. But one suspects-that what they need most is for their biggest guns - Pietersen and Collingwood - to fire accurately.

Both batsmen are averaging below 30 in one-day internationals since last year's World Cup and, with Ian Bell having gone 11 innings without a half-century, there is plenty of room for improvement in the middle order.

If Pietersen feels under the cosh, however, he is not showing it.

"I don't feel under serious amounts of pressure in terms of being responsible for things," he said. "Cricket is played by individuals but it's also a team game and it's very important for people to know that everybody helps out.

"I'm working as hard as I've ever worked. But life is full of challenges. It's the first [sticky] patch I've had in three years playing for England. I knew it was going to come and it's a case of getting my head around it and working hard.

"I think I'm playing pretty well at the moment. The runs are not around at the minute but this is a little challenge for me to get over. I'll come good."

Meanwhile, Stephen Fleming, New Zealand's most capped player (108) and leading run-scorer (6,875), confirmed today that next month's Test series against England will be his last before he retires from international cricket.

England Lions failed in their bid to reach the Duleep Trophy Final after losing to West Zone by nine wickets in Vadodara today. Needing to only avoid defeat to go through, Michael Yardy's side collapsed to 165 all out, leaving the West 27 runs for victory.