Kevin Pietersen has already experienced more than his share of fluctuating fortunes as an England player but claims his experiences with the current one-day side is taking him into the unknown.

The 27-year-old Hampshire batsman has packed plenty of career highlights into his short international career, including helping England regain the Ashes and being named the ICC Emerging Player of the year in 2005.

Pietersen's staggering consistency has resulted in him being nominated for Cricketer of the Year, Test Player of the Year and One-Day Player of the Year at the ICC Awards being held in Johannesburg in just less than a fortnight.

But, despite being a key member of England's one-day side since 2004, Pietersen has admitted the success he is currently enjoying under Paul Collingwood's leadership in the NatWest Series is something he has never experienced before.

''In the nearly three years I've played for England, there have not been many mornings when you wake up thinking 'we could win a one-day series' - and a big series at that,'' said Pietersen.

''But I woke up this morning thinking we could now be 3-0 up. In three games, we have scored around 900 runs and I haven't played in an England team that could say that.

''I don't think Colly or Fred (Flintoff) have either and not only scored nearly 900 runs, but also really competed against one of the best sides that includes some of the greats of the game.

''(Sachin) Tendulkar, (Sourav) Ganguly and (Rahul) Dravid - they've got 35,000 runs or so between them, just those three guys. To be competing against them and knowing we could be 3-0 up is an awesome feeling.''

Monday's vibrant display in Birmingham secured a 42-run triumph and gave England a 2-1 lead prior to the fourth match in the series under the lights at Old Trafford.

It followed similarly impressive performances at the Rose Bowl and Bristol, where the hosts slipped to a dramatic nine-run defeat, and achieved a notable first for England in one-day cricket - it is the first time in 473 ODIs they have recorded three successive scores above 280.

That achievement is all the more impressive for the fact that Pietersen, currently rated the number two one-day batsman in the world in the official rankings, is yet to contribute heavily to any of those totals after a top-score of 33 so far in the series.

But Pietersen insisted: ''I'm so happy with the way the guys are playing. I've always said no matter how many runs I score if England are winning that's when I'm happiest and right now I'm happy. We are 2-1 up and we could be 3-0 up.

''The hundreds I've scored in losing causes, so what? They're good for stats, but everyone wants to be in a winning dressing room. Everyone is really happy now and personal performances don't really bother me.

''I feel fine. I've scored quite a lot of runs this summer - close to 1,000 runs in all competitions and if I can do that playing for England every summer, I'll be a very happy man.

''I think I've had my best year to date in terms of runs I've scored this summer. I know my one-day stats haven't proved that, but I can't be happier with what's happened in the Test arena.''

One of the main reasons Pietersen has not prospered so far in the seven-match series is 18-year-old leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who bowled him with the googly at the Rose Bowl and then had him stumped with the same delivery at Edgbaston.

Rather than become depressed at his inability to overcome his nemesis, however, Pietersen believes it is good for the game.

''You can play in the nets against spinners from the sub-continent who can make you look like a bit of a clown because they've got variation,'' conceded Pietersen.

''That's the great thing about cricket - anyone can get anybody out.

''Fair play to the bloke.