England Cricket / Paul Moon / 10 July 2008 /

Animosity between Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Smith has been well documented - largely by Smith - and the series between England and South Africa, which begins today, promises to be a classic, says Paul Moon.

There are many similarities to Graeme Smith and Kevin Pietersen both in personality and cricket. They could be peas from the same pod but on separation they took different directions.

Graeme Craig Smith (1 February 1981 Johannesburg) is the current captain of South Africa. This tall, aggressive and attacking left handed opening batsmen reminds me of a cartoon character in a comic. With his jutting jaw and Desperate Dan persona we see him strutting around a cricket pitch, fists clenched on hips looking for trouble, even if it is not there, seeking confrontation and proclaiming bravery.

His personality reflects his forefathers of the untamed country that he lives in. He is strong willed, ambitious, vigorous and has a certain presence and it must be this sergeant major attitude that endears him to the selectors. I had a Bombardier like him when serving in the Australian Army; we humbly obeyed his orders but we never believed in him or took him seriously.

Kevin Pietersen (27 June 1980 Pietermaritzburg) opted to quit South Africa for England in protest at the controversial quota system, voting with his feet. He has since repeated his criticism of their wretched policies. Some incensed South Africans have called this inappropriate public comment and would like him hung for treason. I think they are inappropriate.

The headstrong Smith has taken this as an unpatriotic attack on his country rather than the policies. His reaction is over the top. The hard nut is defending the indefensible and continues to make himself look an irrational fool with no sympathy from the world of cricket.

Asked why he disliked Pietersen so much he said: "I'm patriotic about my country, and that's why I don't like Kevin Pietersen. He's had a lot to say about South Africa but I'm ready for how things will work. I'll defend my country."

What Smith says is drivel. The line about 'you attack my country you attack me' sums him up better than I could.

Graeme Smith and Kevin Pietersen now detest each other. Coach Mickey Arthur is frantically building paper bridges but the plain fact is that Smith and KP are bitter enemies and the situation is irretrievable. It will blow up this summer for sure.

Further trouble between the pair started when Pietersen famously branded Smith an "absolute muppet" three years ago during a tour of South Africa. This was on top of Michael Vaughan calling Smith "the witness". Did this add to his inferiority complex?

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith deceives when saying he wants a trouble-free summer and for the game to be played in the right spirit. He was hoping the Proteas will be remembered for the quality of their cricket rather than any potential on-field bust-ups but already his lip has been shooting from the hip.

Yesterday, he said: "Kevin and I would get on a lot better if he kept his mouth shut. That's how he gets fired up. I'll just get on with my cricket."

This is a smack in the face for Coach Arthur who reckons the Proteas have talked at length about stopping the sledging this summer. You wonder if his rants conceal his limitations as a cricketer.

Smith has also entered English cricket politics when saying that the Colgate run out affair is a resignation issue and added that it is too easy to call the crash an accident.

In any case this series promises to be the tastiest since the Ashes and I cannot wait, latest Betfair prices show: England [4.2] South Africa [2.76] and Draw [2.46].

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