Pietersen says will not change 'risk-taking' batting style despite 'run of failures' in Ashes

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has said that he would not change his risk-taking batting style, despite a run of failures resulting in England legend Geoffrey Boycott branding him a 'mug'.

England's leading batsman by Test average and reputation, Pietersen has struggled badly on this disastrous tour so far, scoring only 165 runs in his six innings and on five occasions, he has been caught on the leg side playing attacking shots.

However, the BBC reports that the South Africa-born cricketer said that with the Ashes already lost, he would play the same way as before in Melbourne's Boxing Day Test, adding that he does not shy away from taking risks as he is not kind of player who can think about knocking the ball down the ground.

Many had bemoaned the attitude of Pietersen, who was caught on the long-on boundary trying to clear Ryan Harris, as England was beaten by 150 runs in the third Test in Perth to go 3-0 down in the five Test series, despite earlier passing 8,000 Test runs in his 102nd Test.

Although Pietersen admitted that his act during the Perth Test was a mistake, however, he added that like the past, this one also has been highlighted too much and he would not change the way he plays for anyone as he believes he has been very successful in this method.