Stars focused on present, not past: KP

Jan 21, 2016 - 6:06 AM The Melbourne Stars' miserable record in the business stage of the Big Bash League (BBL) remains a taboo topic at the MCG.

The Stars host the Perth Scorchers on Friday night in a semi-final.

In the previous four editions of the BBL, the Stars qualified for the finals but failed to reach the season decider.

That includes three losses to Perth.

Kevin Pietersen had little interest in discussing that record on Thursday, when he addressed reporters after signing a two-year extension with the Stars.

"The hardest thing to deal with throughout my career was the weight of expectation," Pietersen said.

"To put a weight of expectation on our shoulders to go out and deliver something extremely special .. that's the worst thing we can do.

"If we win, we win.

"If we don't, we don't."

It is a mantra that coach Stephen Fleming has also adopted in his first season at the Stars.

"Absolutely not," Pietersen said, when asked if the club's semi struggles had been raised in any meetings.

"What's the point in worrying?

"We've got no interest in the result ... what will be, will be."

The Englishman played in the 2015 semi between the same two teams, when the Scorchers successfully defended 144 in Perth.

The Stars were cruising at 1-64 after 10 overs then suffered a collapse of 5-28.

"You're chucking numbers at me which I have absolutely no interest in and I can't remember," Pietersen said, when asked about the 18-run loss.

"All I know is we didn't play good cricket last year and we played very good cricket last week.

"History suggests the Stars haven't gone well in every single semi-final but they've done brilliantly to get to every semi."

The Stars named an unchanged squad for the clash, with Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Scott Boland and John Hastings still unavailable because of national duty.

The Scorchers added pacemen Jason Behrendorff and Joel Paris to their 13-man squad in place of Travis Birt and Jhye Richardson.

Meanwhile, Pietersen was thrilled to extend his contract with the Stars.

"It's probably one of my easiest decisions ... it does certainly feel like a second home," the 35-year-old said.

STARS' SEMI-FINAL STRUGGLES:

* 2012: 11-run loss to Perth, who defended total of 3-174 at the WACA

* 2013: eight-wicket loss to Perth, who chased down 139 from 13 overs in rain-affected WACA clash

* 2014: seven-wicket loss to Hobart, who chased 142 at the MCG

* 2015: 18-run loss to Perth, who defended 144 at the WACA

Source: AAP