Kevin Pietersen is a South African born batsman who switched allegiance to England after finding his chances in his native country blocked by the post-apartheid quota system. He has since been vocal in slamming the South African cricket set-up. Smith, as South African captain and an arch-patriot, has taken umbrage at KP's comments.

With both men only 26 this rivalry will run and run and can not have been helped when Smith's South Africa ended Pietersen's England World Cup hopes with a nine wicket thrashing with Smith himself catching Pietersen to take his wicket.