 Pietersen was dismissed three short of a maiden century |
New England batsman Kevin Pietersen insists he will have no problem with the question of his allegiance in the one-day series in South Africa. The Natal-born 24-year-old said South Africa A players made derogatory remarks to him in Thursday's match.
"While I was fielding, there was talk of 'traitorship' and all that but it is water off a duck's back," he said.
"I feel English, and there is a strong possibility I will get that tattoo (of the three lions) on our last day here."
Pietersen transformed England's innings with a scintillating 97 including three sixes, as the tourists recorded a six-wicket win in the sole warm-up match.
 |  I can't start abusing 30,000 people back can I? |
"I want to become a regular, try to cement a place, be one of the better players and get my name as one of the first on the team sheet," he said.
There will be an estimated capacity crowd of 32,000 when Pietersen turns out for England in the first of seven one-day internationals against South Africa on Sunday.
"It is now a case of me going out there and doing what I do best on Sunday. I can't start verbally abusing 30,000 people back, can I? That would be a losing effort.
"I can't wait to go out and play at the Wanderers, I haven't played there for a couple of years but I have done well there in the past both for Natal and Nottinghamshire, on a pre-season tour.
"It is just a case of performing the best that I can and getting on with it."
Pietersen, who qualifies through his English mother, left South Africa four years ago and became eligible for England last autumn.
He made his debut in the one-day series in Zimbabwe, playing in all four matches, and was dismissed only once, with a top score of 77.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Best of the Tests