KP's boys go nuts

Harmison: back to his best

Kevin Pietersen’s first day in charge of the England cricket team went rather well.

Despite Graeme Smith being dropped off the first ball – which suggested yet another England disaster – Pietersen got his team focused and skittled South Africa out for 194.

Things looked to be going well for the tourists as they started to settle in at 103 for one, but then the England bowlers found some form.

Most surprisingly of all, Steve Harmison – whose last notable contribution to an England team was THAT wild ball in the Ashes – was one of the stand-out performers, taking Smith's wicket and then Hashim Amla's with the next ball.

'I got a text message from Kevin last night welcoming me back and wishing me luck,' Harmison said after the match. 'It felt like Christmas Eve, I was so excited.

'Our momentum went from that first over. We’ve done most things well and put ourselves in a good position. Hopefully, we can ram it home.

'Kevin is up for the captaincy. I thought he did fantastically well.'

Of course, it's way too early to put all the credit to Pietersen, although his hands on approach seems to be working.

Andrew Strauss threatened to mess it up, going cheaply again for six, but England finished 49-1 and are in a position to dominate.

Whether they will or not, remains to be seen. Because let's face it, we've been here before...

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