Michael Atherton: 'Kevin Pietersen is the best I've seen'

Former England captain Michael Atherton has said that Kevin Pietersen is the best English player he has ever seen.

The 33-year-old batsman will play his 100th Test in the Ashes series opener against Australia in Brisbane on Thursday.

"I think he is the best England player I have seen in 30 years," Atherton told Sky Sports News.

"There have been some good players along the way - [Graham] Gooch, [David] Gower and all these guys - but he is the best I've seen."

In his 99 Tests to date, Pietersen has scored 7,887 runs at an average of 48.83.