Kevin Pietersen

Batting

Type Right-hand
Innings 0
Not outs 0
Runs 0
Ave -
Strike rate -
Best -
How out% -


Bowling

Type Right-arm medium
Overs 0
Runs 0
Wickets 0
Ave -
Strike rate -
Best -
How dismissed% -


At the wicket

He's the one who...
Was born in Natal to an English mother. Can't miss him: he has a big white flash in his hair, hits the ball a long way and has an ego the size of a South African province.

Words to sledge him with
Biltong/braai/veldt ... Notts ... dreadful barnet.

Form guide
No Tests but at the start of the NatWest Challenge he was averaging 99.57 in England's one-dayers at a run a ball. Hit three centuries in South Africa, then destroyed the Aussies single-handedly at Bristol the day after they lost hilariously to Bangladesh. Priceless.

Top trump
The shot swung to leg that seems to be spooning up for a catch but actually lands in row Q. His tough exterior, hardened by a hostile press and a four-year qualification period, will also be invaluable.

Achilles heel
Well, he's young, impressively fit and mentally unbreakable. But, if he's looking for potential pitfalls, he might want to read up on what happened to Narcissus.

Vital statistic
Scored 4,465 runs in his first four championship seasons.

Alternative history
Decides to pursue his career in South Africa. Fast-tracked into Test side for 2001-02 tour of Australia, where his technique is picked apart by Glenn McGrath. Overwhelmed by self-doubt and abuse about his hair, Pietersen slides down the ladder and is last seeing being thrown out of a Natal nightclub for persistent use of cringeworthy chat-up lines.

Ramprakash's verdict
Outstanding. Thrives on the big stage. People talk about technique but that's a red herring. If you believe in yourself, you're halfway there. There has to be room for him in the team.

Beyond a boundary

Outside interests
Loves the Super 12 and supports the Natal Sharks with a quite unBritish fervour. Also pretty excited by formula one, so watch out if he offers you a lift in his shiny Mercedes.

Hidden talents
Well, there's his off-spin. But he also rates his (off-pitch) pulling technique fairly highly and, as a recent Esquire shoot showed, he's not shy in front of a camera.

One of the lads?
Took a while to find his place in the dressing room and is a much quieter chap there than you'd imagine. But, with Darren Gough as chief mucker and mentor, don't expect that to last.

What he'll say
"I expect Warnie and I will have a bit of banter on the field."

What he means
"Especially after I've taken 18 off his first over."

Not to be confused with... Pepe Le Pew
Larger than life character who considered himself a big hit with the ladies. Shot to fame while proudly sporting a white streak in his quiff but there's no denying he got right up people's noses.