Misfiring Pietersen out for a duck

Hampshire 275 Middlesex 9

At the conclusion of England's winter tour of South Africa the batting of Kevin Pietersen had created a state of near hysteria among England's supporters after he scored three centuries in the one-day series, and in the eyes of many had booked his place in Michael Vaughan's team for the first Test against Australia.

Centurion Park on 13 February 2005, where Pietersen posted the last ­ and probably best ­ of his hundreds, must now feel like a distant memory following his 10-ball nought yesterday, on the first day of Hampshire's First Division Championship match against Middlesex. In his five innings against first-class opposition this season the 24 year-old has now scored only 75 runs.

A disappointing start to the summer has done little to increase his chances of selection for the England team which meets Bangladesh on 26 May. Ian Bell and Robert Key, the two batsman competing with Pietersen for one place, have scored centuries for their counties and it ought to be one of this pair who fill Mark Butcher's No 3 position.

Yesterday the South African born batsman arrived at the wicket after Scott Styris had found the outside edge of Michael Brown's bat. Pietersen played for lunch but then, five balls after the interval, he attempted to force a ball off the back foot and edged to second slip. Andrew Strauss fumbled the chance, but an alert Owais Shah at first slip dived to his right and scooped up the rebound. As Middlesex's fielders celebrated Pietersen had an angry swish at the ground with his bat and made his way from the Rose Bowl. Hampshire had lost three wickets for one run, and were precariously placed on 92 for 4.

Good teams contain players with different attributes, and Hampshire were grateful for John Crawley's love of a good scrap.

The 33 year old received decent support from his lower order as Hampshire moved into a strong position. Each fell playing an attacking shot and Sean Ervine gave Chris Whelan, an 18-year-old debutant, his first first-class wicket when he top edged a pull.

But there was nothing Crawley could do about the ball that ended his courageous innnings. A short-length delivery from Alan Richardson shot along the ground and removed his middle stump. In frustration, Crawley knocked out his off stump with a violent swing of the bat and his reaction, on the basis of an umpire's report, is sure to lead to disciplinary action.