Pietersen has announced in no uncertain terms that one of his major ambitions is to be a great player. But this enormously talented right-handed batsman has already achieved so much in his brief spell in international cricket that one is tempted to call him great.
He has scored 2,898 runs at 52.69, including 10 centuries and 10 fifties, in only 30 Tests. His strike rate, 65.49, reflects his positive approach at the crease.
He has made 2,068 runs at 53.02, including 5 hundreds and 14 half-centuries, in 54 ODIs. His strike rate, 90.90, is an indication of his attacking batting.
No other English batsman has had such an impressive record in Tests as well as ODIs in the beginning, in the middle or at the end of his career.
This is what makes Pietersen's case very interesting. This is also what distinguishes him from the rest of English cricketers. He is a South African by birth - born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal - and it explains why he is so different from his somewhat quiet, subdued England colleagues.
Strangely, cricket authorities of South Africa couldn't identify this gem. They kept ignoring Pietersen and his precious talents simply because of the colour of his skin.
A dangerous form of reverse apartheid is being practised in the new South Africa for the past few years. The government seems to have vowed to promote black people in almost every field, particularly in sports, specifically cricket.
Orders are issued to the provincial as well as national selectors to pick a certain number of non-white players irrespective of their skills or lack of them. Hansie Cronje was one of the first to strongly condemn this "positive discrimination", warning the powers that be of its possible dangers.
But Cronje's warning fell on deaf ears. They've committed a classic hara-kiri in Pietersen's case and they're bound to regret it forever. What a miss for South Africa! And what a prize catch for England!
Image: Pietersen celebrates on reaching his maiden century against India in Tests during the first Test at Lord's on July 22, 2007.
Also see: 'I don't care if people think I am a monkey'
India in the United Kingdom 2007
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