Pietersen moved on to the Rose Bowl and joined Hampshire. He even earned a late call into the England squad, which was already in South Africa, in early 2005. Expectedly, he received a hostile welcome in the country of his birth with crowds literally baying for his blood.
There was a "mass hate" for Piertersen from all quarters on the eve of the first ODI in Johannesburg. "It was cut-throat stuff. My parents were in shock. My mother was crying when they're swearing and shouting 'traitor'. People were hysterical," recalled Pietersen. Why, even the South African captain Graeme Smith joined the baiters.
But undeterred by the seething abuse, Pietersen held a fine catch and scored 22 not out. He followed this with a chain of prodigious, thundering innings - 108 not out, 33, 75, 100 not out and 116. Pietersen had well and truly arrived on the big stage.
He suddenly rose in the popularity chart of the British icons, leaving behind even David Beckham for a while. Ignored for two Tests against Bangladesh, he eventually made his debut in the heavyweight division of cricket against Australia at Lord's, hitting two brilliant fifties even as England lost.
Image: Andre Nel gives Pietersen a friendly push during an ODI match in Johannesburg on January 30, 2005.
Also see: Pietersen prefers bald top
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