HE'S the new superstar of English cricket. But when Kevin Pietersen arrived at The Rose Bowl yesterday afternoon, he immediately made it crystal clear that scoring runs for Hampshire was his only concern.

Pietersen has bludgeoned three centuries for England in his first 11 one-day internationals at an incredible average of 139.5 and is already being widely tipped for inclusion in this summer's Ashes showdown against Australia.

Yet the 24-year-old is refusing to get carried away and just wants to settle into his new Southampton home, having signed from Nottinghamshire last October.

He said: "I'm not really too focussed on the Tests at the minute, that is a while away.

"I can just concentrate on scoring runs for Hampshire, which is my next challenge, and that is what I want to do.

"It is a new challenge for me at Hampshire and it's going to be good.

"There are a lot of people to meet, a lot of friends to make and a lot more enjoyment to have.

"I've seen the determination and passion that this club has in the last couple of months and it's just a case of performing for Hampshire.

"At the moment, I'm getting myself sorted out with a new place down here. I'm not really fussed about what might happen in two or three months right now."

When he joined Hampshire last year, Pietersen had looked unlikely to force his way into the England Test squad so quickly.

But that now looks increasingly probable after his breathtaking emergence on the international scene.

Hampshire could be compensated to the tune of around £40,000 this summer if Pietersen features in both the Test and one-day England teams, but it will mean he is unavailable throughout much of the season.

"It would be disappointing for me and Hampshire, because they've signed me on a three-year deal," said Pietersen.

"If they'd known, they probably wouldn't have been interested. But six weeks is a long time - there is a lot of cricket to be played.

"It's important to do as well as I can in the early games and go from there.

"It's the same as Shane Warne, who will be similar to me if all goes to plan.

"It's a case of knuckling down from the first ball on April 13 and doing as well as we can.

"But there are some class players here. I'm not just going to win a Championship for Hampshire. It's a hugely-talented squad, so it's just a case of me fitting in."

Pietersen's superb batting, which included a record-breaking 69-ball one-day century, eventually won over the hostile South African fans - but he is aware that Test cricket will require different qualities.

He said: "It was a challenge but I knew what would go on. The two weeks before the game, I knew, if I got selected, I would get a proper hammering.

"I drilled my thoughts into a process of overcoming it and thought I did a pretty good job of it.

"Test cricket is a patience game. One-day cricket, you have only got 50 overs to bat and you've got to make the best use of those. In Test cricket, you have got days you can bat."

Pietersen has been withdrawn from the England A tour of the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka later this month, giving him time to recover from the gruelling seven-match series against South Africa and prepare for the start of the new English county season.

He said: "It's always good to represent England in a foreign country, but I picked up a few niggles, so it will be good to sort them out so I'm raring to go on April 13.

"I picked up a hamstring strain and I've got a bad elbow at the moment, so it is just a case of getting some rehab and getting it sorted out.

"I'm going to New York for a few days and I'm just going to chill out to be honest. Playing seven one-day internationals in 14 days is hectic on the body, I promise you.

"But I'm in good nick at the minute, so I don't want to not hit the ball for a month."