Pietersen c Strauss b Flintoff 208

The headline may look strange but it could have happened if the Natal born batsmen Kevin Pietersen had not decided to turn his back on his native South Africa in favour of a career with England.

With the fifth test petering out to a draw and Pietersen still at the crease one of Channel Four's commentators will pose a very interesting question. Former Australian test player Michael Slater asks, "How did the South African selectors let this guy slip through their fingers?"

Fellow commentator Mark Nicholas bellows what were all thinking at home.

"Good Question!"

England really struck gold when they brought Pietersen into their side. He has consequently becomes the leading runs scoring in this series and it seems a far cry when it was debated whether he would even play!

It is also arguable that Pietersen has struck gold, gold being the operative word and the possible reaason for his defection to the England team.

Not that I am complaining and it is not a new thing to happen. Allan Lamb and Robin Smith were both successful England batsmen without masking a broad South African accent. Kepler Wessels played for the Aussies before captaining South Africa.

One question that will still need answering is how they managed to let this happen. When Lamb and Smith played for England the country was in the midst of apartheid. Unless I'm mistaken the country has left those days behind.

It suggests a failure in some regards of their cricket board. However, it is not our problem so thank your lucky he wasn't stepping out at Johannesburg in that second innings back in the winter. Otherwise Matthew Hoggard may have had his thunder stolen by a young promising batsmen from the provinces.