IT takes quite a bit to overshadow Test cricket's leading wicket-taker and most flamboyant character.

But yesterday, at Hampshire's Rose Bowl, English cricket's newest idol briefly managed to upstage Shane Warne - and he wasn't even playing!

Kevin Pietersen's incredible run-scoring heroics in the one-day series against South Africa have ensured that, for now, he is the newest, freshest, most exciting face in the sport.

Yesterday was supposed to be his Hampshire debut.

After three hundreds against South Africa, Pietersen is developing a reputation for writing his own scripts and no one was dismissing the prospect of him doing something remarkable.

Who knows, maybe he would bludgeon a double-century on the opening day of the cricket season?

Fleet Street's finest were not taking any chances and headed for Southampton in force, scenting the possibility of something special.

The overcast weather and constant possibility of showers hardly helped, but there was a reasonable turnout among Hampshire fans for what, largely thanks to Pietersen and Warne, is the most eagerly awaited cricket season for some time.

Yet the morning drizzle that delayed the start of play by half-an-hour proved a prelude for disappointment.

Pietersen was the one name withdrawn from the squad because of a stress fracture of the metatarsal in his left foot.

And with all due respect to his replacement, Derek Kenway, he was not the man that many at The Rose Bowl had arrived to see.

Pietersen suffered the injury to his foot while on holiday in Australia a few weeks ago.

He is back in training and may still feature in the National League against Essex on Sunday.

It has apparently been a close call and he was fit enough to spend some time in the nets yesterday. He also watched the action, happily mingling with members of his family who were in the crowd, as well as patiently dealing with numerous autograph requests.

He has a certain aura about him - and one thing was still crystal clear. Even while he is not swinging a bat to mighty effect, Kevin Pietersen still looks every inch like becoming the new superstar of English cricket.