THIS IS the first picture of red-hot Kevin Pietersen in his Hampshire shirt - and English cricket's latest superstar can't wait to make his debut for the county.

England chairman of selectors David Graveney has admitted a good start to Hampshire's season will give Pietersen, fourth from the right in the back row, a great chance of playing against Australia in this summer's Ashes series.

Pietersen has made a sensational start to his England one-day career, averaging almost 150 with the bat and scoring two undefeated hundreds already in the current series in his native South Africa.

Graveney said: "I would imagine if he continues this form and brings it to Hampshire - which Hampshire fans will be looking forward to - he will be making a claim to play against Australia. He has the confidence for it. He has never played against Australia and they don't know about him.

"Is he the type of guy who can take the battle to them? He's that sort of cricketer."

Hampshire will be fully reimbursed if the ECB decide to add Pietersen to their list of centrally contracted players this summer and, if he is not, they will still receive around £3,500 for each Test match he plays.

But the 24-year-old is already excited at the prospect of making his Hampshire debut against Gloucestershire on April 13.

Chairman Rod Bransgrove said: "I got a text message from KP after he put the Hampshire gear on for the first time and he was chuffed as nuts. He's up for it and is very excited.

"Warney (Shane Warne) is also very excited by the performances of our new batsman, which seem to have set the world alight.

"In many ways, KP is very similar as he's got a lot of confidence and a superstar with a bit of humility off the field. He'll be a great asset.

"If he plays Test cricket this summer, that's great for him and it's still good for the club.

"From a marketing point of view, it's very important to have Hampshire players involved with England.

"KP will provide plenty of competition for Shane Warne shirt sales in the club shop and we have other players banging on the door in Chris Tremlett and Dimitri Mascarenhas.

"And we've still got a recent England player in John Crawley."