By Jamie Lillywhite

No question of loyalty for England's new hero Kevin Pietersen

England's new hero Kevin Pietersen might still be playing local cricket in South Africa but for a lucky break as a schoolboy.

Born in South Africa, Pietersen was playing in a schools competition for Natal province when he was spotted by Clive Rice, one of the country's greatest all-rounders.

Rice, then chairman of schools selection in South Africa and a key figure at county side Nottinghamshire, spotted Pietersen's potential immediately.

But he could not pick Pietersen because of South Africa's racial quota system, introduced to fast track non-white players after the end of apartheid.

Instead, Rice suggested Pietersen take a gamble on a life-changing decision to travel thousands of miles from home and commit himself to England instead.

"I got wind of the fact he was playing in the Birmingham League and had a British passport," Rice recalls.

He's a very confident guy and backs himself - he made a mark exceptionally fast Clive Rice

"I phoned him and said: 'KP I'm not even asking you to come on trial, I'm just sending you a contract. You come and play for Notts and in four years time you'll be playing for England.'

"He came to see what Trent Bridge was all about and said: 'Perfect, I'll play.'"

"He's a very confident guy and backs himself. He settled in very quickly at Notts and made a mark exceptionally fast.

"I met his parents after we'd signed him and we got on pretty well. They had 100% confidence in what I'd done and wanted me to guide him in his cricket."

Pietersen spent the required four-year qualification period tearing county attacks apart in England, combining a minimum 210 days a year in the country with winters back in South Africa.

During four summers with Nottinghamshire, he scored more than 5,000 first-class runs at an average of 54, including 18 centuries.

South Africa were readmitted to Test cricket when Smith was 28

In 2002, he produced a career best 254 not out off 252 balls against Middlesex at Trent Bridge, an innings which included three sixes and 31 fours, and was the star of the England A team tour to India early in 2004.

That led to a call-up to tour his old home with England last winter - and the rest is history.

Pietersen is far from the first distinguished England cricketer to be born overseas.

Some came from former British colonies, while others, like Allan Lamb and Robin Smith, had no route into Test cricket in their native South Africa, which was at that time banned from international sport.

But Pietersen is the first to voluntarily choose to leave the country of his birth following their return from international exile in favour of playing for England.

In some ways, though, he provides an echo of Smith, whose burning desire to play Test cricket became obvious after he came to England as a 17-year-old and went on to score more than 6,600 runs in 62 Tests and 71 one-day internationals.

He's English - he's got the three lions tattooed on his left arm England's Paul Collingwood

"At the time South Africa were isolated from international sport," Smith recalls.

"I'd worked pretty hard through my early days at school and all I really wanted to do was to play cricket at the very highest level that I possibly could.

"South Africa was never going to give me that chance during the apartheid system. So I came to England to enhance my career and give myself a chance.

"With Kevin it's different obviously. South Africa have been reintroduced to international cricket so he made the decision for different reasons, perhaps so he could play cricket all year round.

Pietersen made three centuries on his return to South Africa last winter

"Once you qualify as an English player you can play, obviously for England in the winter, but also for 12 months of the year because counties only employ two overseas players and they've got to be of the highest calibre."

According to Pietersen's brother younger Bryan - who plays club cricket in Hampshire - the drive and determination any sportsman needs to reach the very top have been obvious in Kevin from a very early age.

"It was very competitive when we were young," Bryan recalls. "We used to play in the courtyards, and obviously he used to beat my all the time."

Further evidence came on England's tour of South Africa last winter, when Pietersen was the subject of abuse from the local crowd.

His answer was to score three centuries and mark himself out as a man with a huge future playing for his adopted country.

And if anyone still has doubts about his loyalty, Pietersen's England team-mate Paul Collingwood has a simple answer.

"He's English - he's got the three lions tattooed on his left arm."