By Paresh Soni

Clive Rice predicted Kevin Pietersen would play Test cricket when he brought him from South Africa to Nottinghamshire in 2001.

Pietersen down after England loss

Everything 24-year-old Pietersen has done in the following three-and-a-half years, particularly since his one-day international debut against Zimbabwe last November, has added weight to that claim.

Fast-tracked into the England one-day side after serving his qualification period, Pietersen made an instant impression with a man-of-the-series effort against South Africa which yielded three hundreds.

The second of those centuries, off only 69 balls against South Africa in East London, led to suggestions that he could play a key role in this Ashes summer.

He's very talented and can take attacks apart Clive Rice

And with two Tests against Bangladesh at the start of the season, Pietersen could take his Test bow before Australia arrive.

But is he ready for Test cricket? And will his big-hitting style come unstuck in the five-day game?

Several double-centuries for Notts, and a series of impressive displays for England A on their tour of India last year, shows he can dominate attacks in longer matches.

And Rice is in no doubt that Pietersen can do it against Test opposition of the highest calibre.

"I think he will do well," the former Notts all-rounder and coach told BBC Sport.

His ODI innings have shown he has the ability to flay an attack From Ben Have your say on TMS

"If he can do well in one-day cricket, he can do it in five-day cricket. I saw him do it in four-day matches for Notts.

"The fielding side attacks more in Test matches and gives you more gaps to score in, which he will enjoy.

"He is very talented and can take attacks apart."

Of course, success in limited-overs cricket does not necessarily lead to a long Test career.

Nick Knight and Neil Fairbrother were key members of England's one-day line-up but struggled to hold down a regular place in the other format.

But both say Pietersen has what it takes to establish himself in England's middle-order.

I see no reason why he can't do it over the longer form of the game Nick Knight

Warwickshire captain Knight, who has 100 ODI appearances to his name - but only 17 Test caps - has been hugely impressed by the Hampshire star's strokeplay.

He told BBC Sport: "It's almost fearless - but controlled - hitting, and he's been great since he's come into international cricket.

"He feels very much at home with it, he's a very dangerous player and can take the game away from you if you don't get him out early on."

Knight believes Pietersen's first-class statistics - more than 5,500 runs at an average of just over 54, including 19 centuries - suggest he can make the transition to the Test scene.

"He's certainly worked out a method that can be successful in one-day cricket and I see no reason why he can't do it over the longer form of the game," the opening batsman added.

"He's got a very good record in first-class cricket and a very impressive average.

"It's down to him and what opportunities he gets. So far, however, he's done all he can do."

Fairbrother, who played just 15 Test innings but scored more than 2,000 ODI runs, added: "Everybody has their own individual style. His works for him and the stats say he's a very good player.

"When the moment comes for his Test debut I'm sure he will be up for that. There is a lot of competition for places but I see him as the number four or five."