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Pietersen "has glint in his eye" for SA series

09/07/2008

Kevin Pietersen is all set to enjoy a big series against his native South Africa over the coming weeks, according to England captain Michael Vaughan.

The skipper says the middle-order star, who was born in Pietermaritzburg, "has got that glint in his eye" and will be looking to make a big score when the four-match Test series begins at Lord's tomorrow.

"Kevin is a wonderful player who seems to like the spotlight and the big occasion," Vaughan said.

"This is a big series and he's done well against pacey bowling in the past, so we're looking for him to have a really good series."

The upcoming matches will be the first time Pietersen has faced the Proteas in Test cricket.

However, he was a key player in the one-day games on the last tour to South African shores in 2004/05 - earning recognition as England's best player as he led the tourists to a series victory.

And Vaughan said he expects Pietersen to be similarly fired up this time around.

"I'm hoping he will react in the same way he did when playing against them in one-day cricket in South Africa," the skipper explained.

"He went on and had a fantastic series - probably his best-ever one-day series.

"And he looks like he's got that glint in his eye to go on and get big scores so hopefully he'll do that."