By Justin Langer Former Australia Test batsman and current Somerset captain

The recently released Schofield report has uncovered some interesting facts about English cricket.

This report will provoke plenty of fruitful discussion over the next few months about the path of cricket in this country, but unless the issues are acted upon such a report will be nothing more than words on a piece of paper.

There is no doubt in my mind that having the right systems in place are critical to the success of any organisation, therefore the Schofield report is a means of putting a strong blueprint in place to ensure the future prosperity of English cricket.

Kevin Pietersen hit a masterly 226 in the second Test in Leeds

It has been suggested that many of the changes encouraged in the report are there with the aim of seeing England supplant Australia as the game's top side.

Whether this happens or not only time will tell, but one thing I do know is that if England can continue to develop players with the talent and attitude of Kevin Pietersen then they will be well on the way to being a very good team.

A lot has been said of Kevin since his debut but in my view he is an exceptional player who many of his team-mates, and any aspiring international player, can learn a great deal from.

From an Australian's point of view the greatest compliment we can give an opposition player is that we don't really like him much.

And the reason we don't really like Kevin Pietersen is that he displays traits which rub us up the wrong way.

He struts a little, he is aggressive in everything he does, he takes on any bowler and he stares you in the eyes with the confidence of a prize fighter.

We would love to have him in our team, because we love the way he goes about his business.

He is an outstanding player in that he backs his ability to the hilt and he makes the game go forward every time he is in the middle.

Pietersen has an enormous thirst for knowledge of how he can become the best player in the world

My fear in this series was that he might take the young, inexperienced West Indies bowlers a little lightly.

The way he was dismissed in the first innings at Lord's worried me that he might not make as many runs as he should this summer, but it is a huge credit to his hunger for success that he has been able to make consecutive centuries in his last two Test innings.

I am pleased to see him enjoying his success because not only is he entertaining to watch but I have always found him to be a very respectful young man, who has an enormous thirst for knowledge of how he can become the best player in the world.

As confident as he is on the field he is a very likeable person off it and while he makes an Australian's hair bristle when you compete against him, he is the sort of player we like to see doing well.

While the Schofield report provides a blueprint for the future, the Pietersen statement should provide the blueprint for how the game is best played regardless of what colour cap one may be wearing.

From Taunton,