Kevin Pietersen: South African Cricket's Greatest Deserter

Kevin Pietersen is one of England's most dangerous weapons and one of only three of the nation's batsmen who have headed the ICC's One Day rankings. On his day, he can decimate a bowling attack with the swagger and confidence that makes Muhammad Ali seem like a shrinking violet.

Pietersen became the fastest batsman to reach both 1000 and 2000 runs in One-Day International cricket and has the second-highest run total from his first 25 Tests, a stat he fails to head due to the brilliance of the legendary Don Bradman. KP would get into any international cricketing side in the world.

Why then, did he opt to abandon the country where he learnt his trade and play for a nation he'd never set foot in until the age of 21?

The answer, as he puts it, was the lack of opportunity to break into the side due to racial quotas put in place by South African cricket's governing body.

Cricket South Africa has imposed a quota whereby they demand six non-white players in any 14-man squad, a controversial policy that has caused many players who feel they deserve to be in the team outrage and disappointment.

Andre Nel famously missed out on the South African Test side that toured Bangladesh this spring, despite being 22nd in the ICC bowler's rankings and picking up man-of the match figures of 4-27 in the preceding ODI.

Pietersen was incredulous at the positive discrimination employed by CSA and went to see Ali Bacher, one of the heads of the governing body at the time, to request a fair deal for all. Bacher steadfastly refused and Pietersen packed his bags.

The disillusionment at CSA's policies caused him to look elsewhere to play international cricket and, due to his English mother, South Africa's loss was the ECB's gain.

KP went from strength to strength, focusing more on his batting than his traditional off-break bowling. After a four-year stint in the county sides he got the call from the England selectors and the rest, as they say, is history.

South African cricket has never forgiven him, despite his protestations over his inherent Englishness and resulting Three Lions tattoo. On England's tour to his homeland in 04/05, KP scored a scintillating 108* off 96 balls in the second ODI. This earned him no respect from his countrymen, though, as they turned their backs on him as he walked back to the pavilion.

The Kevin Pietersen that arrives at the crease for England today would surely walk into South Africa's side, quota or no quota. How the fans must rue the fact that they let him go.

The restrictions placed on South African cricket is enforced in the aftermath of apartheid that tore the country apart in the 20th Century. It is said by some that racial discrimination still occurs in the lower levels of the sport in South Africa, forcing black players out when they deserve chances to play.

The quota system is undoubtedly controversial. But cricket fans in South Africa could face losing more pre-eminent young talents to its ruling should it continue in its current form.

The solution is unclear and, as a non-South African, I can only give an outsider's opinion. But a system with total and genuine equality cannot exist with any discrimination, positive or otherwise.

How close South Africa is to this ideal can only be answered by those operating within its cricketing systems.