Smith Intent on Ensuring Captain Ego's Reign Gets Off to a Bad Start

Graeme Smith has already caused the resignation of two England captains during his time in charge of South Africa and today he is certainly yearning to deflate Kevin Pietersen's reputation from the outset.

Smith might not express it so forcibly these days, but he still has sympathy with those who observe Pietersen's South African roots, regard his England career as a convenience, and his captaincy of England as a sham. The man who South African players call The Ego has been elevated to Captain Ego and they do not like what they see. With the Test series already won, they are not short of a new incentive.

"Back in South Africa there will be people who respect his ability as a cricketer, but who are also emotional about him taking the job of England captain," Smith said yesterday. "I'm sure there are people in England who feel the same way."

The first England Test side under Pietersen's leadership brings a Test return for Steve Harmison ? it has finally dawned upon England that Ryan Sidebottom is unfit ? and a reshuffled batting order in the absence of Michael Vaughan. Ian Bell will bat at No3 and Andrew Flintoff at six as England revert to a five-strong attack.

Smith was dismissive of the optimism that habitually greets a new captain. "It is certainly going to be an interesting reign to see, I guess," he said. "But it will be in a few series' time when we will see what he is all about. In the short term, Pietersen may be very successful, but the balls-to-the-wall approach really isn't sustainable. He has been a single-minded player. It is not only about your own performance. That is going to be his biggest challenge. You bump your head a bit as a captain and it's how you face up to it that matters."

If Smith had been given out lbw on the back foot to Monty Panesar then England would probably have won at Edgbaston, the series would have been 1?1, and Vaughan and Smith would today have been combatants in a mighty climax to the series. Both would have observed impending Test series against Australia and imagined themselves as captain. Instead, England lost and Vaughan's willpower was spent.

"I have been involved in two Tests now where England captains have resigned," Smith said. "When Nasser Hussain resigned, I was too young to understand the things he was saying, the way he was feeling in the team environment. But now I can certainly sympathize with what Michael said about the pressure that comes with the job. We all have a shelf life."

Anger management: guide to the toss

What you'll seeA firm handshake conducted with the captains staring intently into each other's eyes for 30 secondsWhat it means'See you round the back of the pavilion later, you big wuss'

What you'll hearKevin Pietersen tells Sky's Mike Atherton that he has the utmost respect for Graeme Smith's recordWhat it means'Record schmecord. I have no respect whatsoever for that chubber as a man'

What you'll hearSmith tells Atherton that Pietersen is a 'tough cookie'What it means'He's a muppet. I've seen off Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan. Bring on the hat-trick'

What you'll seeSmith smiles when asked if South Africa will be targeting England's new captain for any special treatmentWhat it meansPietersen has been walking around with a bullseye on his chest since 2004

What you'll hearPietersen calls 'tails' What it meansHis gut instinct told him tails and, fortunately, his wife agreed

What you'll seePietersen wins the toss and elects to fieldWhat it meansThe groundsman has been instructed to shorten the sight screens at both ends