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The New Big-Hitting Batsmen Of World - Kevin Pietersen
Full name Kevin Peter Pietersen
Born June 27, 1980, Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Current age 25 years 26 days
Major teams England, Hampshire, KwaZulu-Natal, Natal, Nottinghamshire
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Expansive with the bat and explosive with the bombast, the South African-born Kevin Pietersen is not one for the quiet life. Pietersen, an enthusiastic, bold-minded and big-hitting cricket batsmen on No 5, first ruffled feathers by shunning South Africa - he was disenchanted with the quota system - in favour of England; his eligibility coming courtesy of an English mother. He never doubted he would play for England: he has self confidence in spades but, fortunately, he has sackfuls of talent too. Sure enough, as soon as he qualified in September 2004, he was invited to tour Zimbabwe for that winter's one-dayers, where he averaged 104 in three innings. Success here earned him a late call into England's team against none other than South Africa in early 2005. Undeterred by hostile receptions from the home crowds, he announced his arrival - loudly, of course - with a robust, unbeaten century in the second ODI at Bloemfontein, and in doing so demonstrated his peerless eye for the ball and for making headlines, too. On reaching his ton, he kissed his badge with unreserved fervour and afterwards announced his next ambition: getting a tattoo of three lions and his England number. Playing at Test level is next on the Pietersen to-do list, and, as a man who puts his money, if not always his mind, where his mouth is, this is only a matter of time. Hampshire in particular will be keeping an anxious eye on his progress, after he signed for them in October 2004 having left Nottinghamshire at the end of three colourful years. He burst into Notts' team with a run of big scores in 2001, earning an England academy place along the way, but then threatened to leave after reportedly falling out with his team-mates. However, he completed his three-year contract before moving on to the Rose Bowl. He has struck up a good friendship with his Hampshire captain, Shane Warne, and was selected in the England squad to face Australia in the first Test of the 2005 Ashes, at Lord's. Warne nicknamed Pietersen "600," in the hope the young Englishman would become his 600th Test wicket - something Pietersen will be keen to avoid, in his own inimitable style.
Jenny Thompson (July 2005)
Full name Kevin Peter Pietersen
Born June 27, 1980, Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Current age 25 years 26 days
Major teams England, Hampshire, KwaZulu-Natal, Natal, Nottinghamshire
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Expansive with the bat and explosive with the bombast, the South African-born Kevin Pietersen is not one for the quiet life. Pietersen, an enthusiastic, bold-minded and big-hitting cricket batsmen on No 5, first ruffled feathers by shunning South Africa - he was disenchanted with the quota system - in favour of England; his eligibility coming courtesy of an English mother. He never doubted he would play for England: he has self confidence in spades but, fortunately, he has sackfuls of talent too. Sure enough, as soon as he qualified in September 2004, he was invited to tour Zimbabwe for that winter's one-dayers, where he averaged 104 in three innings. Success here earned him a late call into England's team against none other than South Africa in early 2005. Undeterred by hostile receptions from the home crowds, he announced his arrival - loudly, of course - with a robust, unbeaten century in the second ODI at Bloemfontein, and in doing so demonstrated his peerless eye for the ball and for making headlines, too. On reaching his ton, he kissed his badge with unreserved fervour and afterwards announced his next ambition: getting a tattoo of three lions and his England number. Playing at Test level is next on the Pietersen to-do list, and, as a man who puts his money, if not always his mind, where his mouth is, this is only a matter of time. Hampshire in particular will be keeping an anxious eye on his progress, after he signed for them in October 2004 having left Nottinghamshire at the end of three colourful years. He burst into Notts' team with a run of big scores in 2001, earning an England academy place along the way, but then threatened to leave after reportedly falling out with his team-mates. However, he completed his three-year contract before moving on to the Rose Bowl. He has struck up a good friendship with his Hampshire captain, Shane Warne, and was selected in the England squad to face Australia in the first Test of the 2005 Ashes, at Lord's. Warne nicknamed Pietersen "600," in the hope the young Englishman would become his 600th Test wicket - something Pietersen will be keen to avoid, in his own inimitable style.
Jenny Thompson (July 2005)