It really was never in doubt. Kevin Pietersen did what so many people expected him to do on Sunday and hit a century in his first innings since his acrimonious departure from the England captaincy. Pietersen hit 103 from 107 balls as England reached 424-8 at stumps on day one of the three-day tour match against a St Kitts & Nevis XI. Pietersen quit as the captain earlier this month after his demand for the removal of the coach Peter Moores had gone horribly wrong for the South African-born batsman. While Moores also left his post, Pietersen had been told he was likely to be sacked as England skipper if he did not resign first. It was a messy end that was hardly a surprise although it came, perhaps, sooner than expected.
"What happened to me for a couple of weeks really, really hurt me," said Pietersen. "I have just got to really and truly get back to doing what I love. And when I cross over the white line, that is what I love. "I love training, I love batting and I love scoring runs for England. It has been difficult but I am okay now; I would like a few questions answered first for everything to be gone but time is healing."
The new England captain Andrew Strauss, who is effectively in charge of the tour as England remain without a coach, had won the toss but was dismissed second ball without scoring. His opening partner Alastair Cook contributed a half-century, as did Steve Harmison, before perishing in the final over of the evening session. "I just wanted to get back playing cricket, back into the dressing room with the lads and there is no better place to do that than in the Caribbean," Pietersen said in a statement on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) website.
Pietersen said he had never doubted he could fit back into the team. "I knew it was never going to be a problem," Pietersen added. "I loved doing the job, absolutely loved it, and I thought we were going to go in the right direction - the direction in which I wanted to take the team. "But at the end of the day, I am not in charge, I am enjoying it and scoring a hundred is what turns me on, so that's good."
Owais Shah will start the second day on 125 not out. Andrew Flintoff was caught for 11 and was then withdrawn from the match as a precaution after complaining of a left side strain. Flintoff, 31, picked up the injury bowling in the nets prior to the match and medical staff will assess if he needs a scan. England are due to play four Test matches, one Twenty20 and five one-day internationals against West Indies in the next two months.
*With agencies