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Kevin Pietersen has reserved some of his best performances in an England shirt against South Africa, the land of his birth, and the hosts will hope for more of the same at Trent Bridge on Thursday. England face South Africa in their opening match of the Super Eights with Pietersen, who missed their shock loss to the Netherlands because of an Achilles injury, having played a key role in getting them to the second round by making a fifty in their victory over Pakistan. Pietersen, 28, caused widespread resentment in South Africa by opting to play for England because he believed a racial quota selection policy was holding back his career. Whatever the rights and wrongs of that decision, it was certainly a bold move to come to England and that innate self-confidence was on show when he first came up against South Africa in international cricket. After a modest debut against Zimbabwe, he was chosen for the one-day series in South Africa in 2005. Confronted by hostile crowds, the talented batsman responded with three centuries in five innings which showcased his ability for improvisation and excellent eye for the ball. Having taken more than his fair share of verbal abuse from spectators, it was perhaps no surprise that, after scoring his maiden ODI century in Bloemfontein, Pietersen made a great show of kissing the England badge on his batting helmet. And just in case there was any doubt as to where his allegiance lay, Pietersen announced afterwards he was going to get a tattoo of his England number and the national emblem of the Three Lions. In the end Pietersen’s talent appeared to have trumped the initial hostility to the extent that by the end of that series the jeers had turned to cheers. That brilliant start against South Africa means that while Pietersen’s career average in one-day internationals is 46.67, against the Proteas it stands at a mammoth 98.66. But there is rather less Twenty20 evidence to go on, with Pietersen’s lone match against South Africa in the format at the inaugural World Twenty20 in Cape Town two years ago seeing him run out for 15. Last year, ex-England captain Pietersen had the satisfaction of making 152 against South Africa in the drawn first Test at Lord’s. After an enthusiastic reception from spectators, Pietersen declared he’d never felt “so loved”. Pietersen began his county career at Trent Bridge with Nottinghamshire where his three year stint ended in a bust-up and a move to Hampshire, who were then captained by his friend and Australia leg-spin great Shane Warne. It is fair to say Pietersen did not always ‘feel the love’ at Trent Bridge, first time around. But spectators and England team-mates alike will be grateful if Pietersen gives the crowd cause to show him affection on Thursday.

South Africa captain Graham Smith is a serious doubt for the third one-day match against England on Friday as he continues to suffer from tennis elbow. The 27-year-old has played through the pain in the last two one-day encounters and is in need of resting the injury.

Jacques Kallis is expected to deputise at The Oval where the tourists must win to keep the five-game series alive. The all-rounder quit the vice-captaincy last year after he was axed from the Proteas’ Twenty20 squad. Kallis has captained his country in the past, filling in for Smith on two separate occasions in 2006 and 2007 and taking charge of seven one-day internationals.

South Africa have lost the opening two matches of the series, the latest a humiliating 10-wicket defeat at Trent Bridge after the tourists could only score 83.

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Stuart Broad returned a career-best five for 23 to help England thrash South Africa by 10 wickets in the second ODI at Nottingham on Tuesday.

The visitors thus went 2-0 down in the five-match series after collapsing to 83 all out in 23 overs, their second lowest total in a One-dayer. South Africa had won the toss and chose to bat on a good Trent Bridge pitch for batting that also offered some sideways movement for the seam bowlers.

Broad snapped up the first four wickets, with Andrew Flintoff (3-29) and Steve Harmison (2-4 in one over) providing excellent support.

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior picked up six catches to equal the world record for a One-Day International innings held by Australian Adam Gilchrist, England’s Alec Stewart and Mark Boucher of South Africa. The home team then raced to victory in 14.1 overs, Prior hitting 45 not out and Ian Bell an unbeaten 28.

Fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out of the remaining four matches in England’s one-day series against South Africa because of a groin injury.

Sidebottom missed two matches in the recent Test series and was also unavailable for the first one-day international last Friday. He has suffered a combination of hip and groin problems since the drawn first Test against South Africa in early July.

England had already called up Steve Harmison to replace him, so are unlikely to call up a fresh recruit.

England lead the series 1-0 with the second match starting on Tuesday.

England sealed a six-wicket victory over South Africa in the final Test at The Oval to hand Kevin Pietersen a winning start as Test captain.

Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook put on 123 as England looked set to cruise to the 197 needed for the consolation win. Cook departed for a fluent 67, but Ian Bell made only four and three balls later Strauss (58) fell at leg gully.

Pietersen departed with 15 needed and Andrew Flintoff hit the winning runs with a six to make the series 2-1.

England require 197 to win the final Test at The Oval after heavy rain ended day four prematurely with them on 0-0. The third day was also washed out with only 17 overs possible.

A comfortable consolation win looked likely as South Africa lost Hashim Amla (76) in the third full over to stand three down and still three runs behind.

Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince also fell before lunch and when the seventh wicket went South Africa’s lead was 96. But AB de Villiers (97) and Paul Harris shared a defiant 95 until both departed within eight balls in a total of 318.

Kevin Pietersen’s quest for victory in his first Test as England skipper was dented by bad weather at The Oval, as only 17 overs were bowled on day three. South Africa, resuming 85 behind at 37-1, had reduced the deficit to 12 in reaching 110-2 but rain forced an early lunch and no further play was possible.

The start was delayed by half an hour, and after a quiet opening Stuart Broad removed Neil McKenzie’s middle stump. Hashim Amla hit an assured unbeaten 71, with 14 fours in his ninth Test fifty.

There is plenty of time remaining for one team to force a result, however, and South Africa coach Mickey Arthur is looking for his team to get as near as possible to 350.

Kevin Pietersen marked his first Test as captain with a century that helped England retain the upper hand after two days of the fourth Test at The Oval.

Pietersen guided the hosts past South Africa’s first-innings 192 but fell for 100 as Makhaya Ntini (5-94) and Jacques Kallis (3-51) prompted a collapse.

England were dismissed for 316 with Steve Harmison finishing 49 not out.

James Anderson removed Graeme Smith before the close, which the tourists reached on 37-1, a deficit of 85 runs.There are still three days to be played in this all important game for the English team.

Kevin Pietersen’s Test captaincy reign began encouragingly as England skittled South Africa for 194 and closed 49-1 on day one of the final Test at The Oval.

Graeme Smith was dropped off Steve Harmison with the first ball of the match but his side slumped from 103-1, losing 6-55 in 18 overs after lunch. Harmison struck twice in two balls and James Anderson (3-42) claimed his 100th Test wicket in the next over. Panesar also took two wickets in the short spell that he bowled.

The first test at Lord’s was drawn while South Africa won the next two to already win the series. Thus this match is not that important from their aspect.

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