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JOHANNESBURG: All-rounder Paul Collingwood believes England's best bat Kevin Pietersen is due for a big score sooner than later.

Coming to the defence of an embattled Pietersen, Collingwood described Pietersen as a "genius" whose next big innings is only just around the corner.

He believes KP is being judged by different standards in comparison to other England batsmen.

Pietersen has had a tough series so far, averaging only 31, and failing to reach a half-century since his match-saving 81 in the first Test at Centurion.

His dismissals have given the impression of a man struggling with his own technique. But Collingwood argued that too much is expected of England's most talented batsman.

"I think sometimes we look at KP and think he should be doing it every single match - and it's probably his own downfall that he's such a good player. He's a kind of genius, and when he goes a couple of games without a score people say he's in terrible nick. He can turn it on - and we hope it will be this game," the Telegraph quoted Collingwood, as saying.

While Pietersen is the man most likely to set up a victory, with his quick scoring and aggressive intent, Collingwood has been England's rock whenever they are looking to secure a draw. Of his 14 Test scores of 80 and above, only two have come in victories. But many more have proved vital to the team cause.

So far in this series, Collingwood has spent two-and-a-half hours over his vital 26 not out at Centurion, and then reprised the performance with a four-and-a-half hour 40 at Newlands. He rates both innings as among the finest he has played for England.

"They're right up there," he said.

"It's very hard to measure those kinds of innings, because it's not about runs. It's about the time you spend in the middle, the attitude you show to the other players that we can do it. In many ways I always think they are worth a hundred - but because you haven't got the runs, it doesn't come across that way. To get across the line like we have done in this series, it's a big achievement," he added.