By John May BBC Sport at the Rose Bowl

Pietersen left Nottinghamshire after four years

Kevin Pietersen admits he signed for Hampshire for an extra cricketing challenge, but also to give his ears a rest from Shane Warne.

The opportunity to play with Warne, the Australia spinner and Hampshire captain, was instrumental in him passing over Kent and other counties for a three-year deal at the Rose Bowl.

"It's going to be a big challenge playing here with players who can help put you in the spotlight, and Warnie will certainly do that," said the 24-year-old.

"Plus there is the fact that if I'm on Warnie's side, I won't get him giving me the ear-bashing he gave me out in the middle this season.

"He's trying to verbally nail you all the time. Now somebody else will get it."

Pietersen, who is set to make his England debut next month, is aware success for Hampshire could mean a Test call-up and lessen his availability for his new county.

I've had Warnie telling me I should get out of the comfort zone and come down here and show people I really can play Kevin Pietersen

To do that, though, he will have to make runs on the fickle wicket at one of England's newest venues.

And he is anxious to prove the theory that if you can score runs at the Rose Bowl you can score them anywhere.

"Lots of people have said about me coming down here and playing on the wicket," said the South African-born batsman.

"To be honest, I could have gone to another club which has a nice flat wicket and scored 1500 runs in the season.

"But I've also had Warnie telling me I should get out of the comfort zone and come down here and show people I really can play.

Hampshire chairman Rob Bransgrove revealed Pietersen's capture came as an almost accidental by-product of Hampshire's signing of his former Nottinghamshire team-mate Richard Logan.

PIETERSEN FACTFILE Full Name: Kevin Peter Pietersen Born: 27 June 1980, Pietermaritzberg, South Africa First-class figures: 5512 runs at average 54.03, 55 wkts at 47.23 Left South Africa for the UK disenchanted with the quota system Joined Nottinghamshire in 2001 but tried to break his contract last year after falling out with team-mates Qualifies for England through Kent-born mother and after four years' residency Named in England squad to tour Zimbabwe in November but not in Test squad for South Africa

"We were interested in Ed Smith at Kent and we weren't aware that Kevin was available - we thought he was going to another county.

"It wasn't until we signed Richard that his agent - who also acts for Kevin - asked if we were interested in a batsman as well.

Bransgrove dismissed speculation that Hampshire had slid a six-figure contract across for Pietersen to sign.

"It's a good package, but it's nowhere near that, and when his partner read that figure in the press, she accused him of doing a Ray Parlour on her."

Bransgrove said Pietersen gives Hampshire what they want - "a reliable batsmen who can be explosive" - as they seek their first trophy since winning the B&H Cup in 1993.

The Hampshire chairman admitted there was an element of jeopardy in signing Pietersen if he breaks into the England set-up, especially with Warne missing half of next season.

"We do risk losing Kevin, but if we do lose him, it will be because he has done well for us.

"Last season, we won five games before Shane left for international duty, and Will Kendall and Sean Udal skippered a side that had the confidence of victories and that momentum.

"We hope they can give us the same."