Pietersen's England History Means Nothing: Bangalore Coach

Kevin Pietersen will attempt to restore his reputation as a leader later this week knowing that the coach who appointed him captain of the Bangalore Royal Challengers doesn't "care a damn" about the circumstances that cost him the England job.

The coach in question, Ray Jennings, defended the confrontational style that contributed to Pietersen's demise as England captain in January, when the batsman's relationship with then England coach Peter Moores came to a head.

"I don't care a damn what happened with the England job," said Jennings. "Kevin and I are on the same wavelength – that's all that matters and I just don't believe he will behave like people believe he can behave. The important thing is Kev's the type who likes to prove people wrong. He's like me – he likes to push fingers up people's noses. I understand the guy and where he's coming from. Whatever his so-called personality weaknesses are, I back him 100%.

"People have to understand that there are a different set of permutations out here from what happened with England. I've clashed with some of my cricketers before, too, but that's my style. It doesn't concern me who he's clashed with. I believe there absolutely has to be tension within any relationship. If there's no tension, there's a lack of respect. I respect Kevin and he respects me. It will be a whole new relationship."

Pietersen is scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning in Johannesburg, Bangalore's base for the Indian Premier League tournament. On Thursday the team travels to Cape Town for Saturday's IPL curtain-raiser at Newlands. Pietersen has already told Jennings he wants a net session as soon as he arrives, and has asked the coach to send him photos of all his new team-mates to cement names and faces ahead of his two-week stint as captain.

"Small things like that convince me he's going to do well," said Jennings. "He's a top professional who plays to win. I like that kind of guy. He also understands South African conditions. It will be tough in that environment but he's a fighter. He's got a personality that's got him to where he is now and he's not going to change it."

History suggests, though, that Jennings will not give his star signing – Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff each fetched an IPL record $1.55m at auction – a cosy ride. When asked what he thought Pietersen's weaknesses were, he replied: "He doesn't score enough runs."

It's the kind of directness Pietersen should enjoy, and is in keeping with the approach to man-management adopted by Jennings during his seven-month spell in charge of South Africa in 2004-05. During a Test against England at Johannesburg, he used a tea break to dump his fast bowler Makhaya Ntini into an ice-bath ahead of a new-ball spell, and in the same game accidentally hit the captain, Graeme Smith, on the side of the head with a ball during a warm-up session. Concussed, Smith had to bat at No8 in the second innings in a match South Africa ended up losing.