WHEN Kevin Pietersen said that he believed his career was “on the way down” at the ripe old age of 30, it said a lot about the player’s state of mind.

What happened to the brash, free-spirited cricketer who showed no fear? The man who took on world-class performers like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and won.

Pietersen became the best batsman in the world because he backed himself in any situation. It may have been his downfall at times – especially when he would gift his wicket – but he was at his best when taking on all-comers.

One can only assume his confidence was fragile and brittle. Once the opposition finally found a chink in his armour, with slow left arm bowlers like Yuvraj Singh and Shakib Al Hasan getting at him, he suddenly became aware of his own mortality. It is amazing how such innocuous bowlers could do so much damage to a man at the peak of his powers.

The whole England captaincy fallout with Peter Moores inflicted further damage and he has never really been the same since.

Is Pietersen’s confidence so shot that he believes he has already peaked?

If so, he needs to have a look at Sachin Tendulkar who, at the age of 37, has just been named Cricketer of the Year after scoring thousands of runs in all forms of the game.

Pietersen usually saves his best for the big occasion and he is still a class act.

He does, however, need to regain that old spark that gave him the confidence to perform on the highest stage.

It is nuts that KP considers he is “on the way down.” Just like the Little Master himself, Pietersen can reign again – provided he gets his head right.