Pietersen in Smith's sights

SA captain Graeme Smith has no doubt that Kevin Pietersen will represent the key wicket during his side's upcoming Test and one-day series against England.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has no doubt that Kevin Pietersen will represent the key wicket during his side's upcoming Test and one-day series against England.

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South Africa-born Pietersen has yet to play a Test against the Proteas.

He quit the land of his birth to pursue a career with England in protest at a racial quota policy he felt was blocking his chances with Natal.

Pietersen's very public criticisms of the system sparked an angry response in South Africa with Smith saying: "I'm patriotic about my country, and that's why I don't like Kevin Pietersen."

For his part, the Hampshire and England batsman labelled Smith "a muppet".

And just to add extra spice there is now a chance that Pietersen could be captaining England in the one-day series with the Proteas.

Pietersen will lead England for the first time in Saturday's one-day international against New Zealand, with Paul Collingwood serving the first of a four-game ban for his side side's slow over-rate at The Oval on Wednesday.

Pietersen is unlikely to have endeared himself to South Africans by saying of his promotion: "Captaining England has been a dream of mine ... To be asked to captain your country is the ultimate honour in sport and I feel privileged and proud to have been asked to lead the side tomorrow."