Kevin Pietersen reckons scoring runs at the Rose Bowl is the challenge that can earn him a Test call up.

South Africa-born Pietersen qualifies to play for England through the four-year residency rule tomorrow and flies out with the one-day squad to Zimbabwe on November 15.

But Test cricket is his main ambition - and he believes that the reputation of the Rose Bowl track can help him achieve it.

Pietersen, who signed a three-year deal with Hampshire yesterday, scored 49 at the Rose Bowl in June to help his former county Nottinghamshire win by an innings and 44 runs.

"Warney has said the wicket for that game wasn't one of their better wickets so I'm not too fussed about it, it's not going to get any worse," he said.

"People have come down here and scored hundreds and double hundreds so why can't I do that?

"I've played on some tough wickets in my career so far and have been pretty positive in my approach and have relished the challenge so I'm sure I'll be all right.

"I got 170 at Headingley this year on a wicket that I thought was pretty dodgy, I've got runs at Durham, and two years ago at Trent Bridge the wicket wasn't fantastic and I did okay there.

"It's the challenge that excites me. I could have stayed at Trent Bridge and do what I've done for the last four years or go and play at the Oval or Canterbury on flat wickets and get 1500 runs.

"But I've heard that the groundsman spends a lot of time on the wicket so it's only going to improve and getting 1,000 runs here will show that I can play - it's going to be a good challenge."

Former overseas player Neil Johnson is the only Hampshire player to have scored 1,000 championship runs in a season since the move to the Rose Bowl in 2001 but Pietersen is determined to become the first England-qualified batsman to achieve the feat.

He added: "It's a big move for me in terms of my career and hopefully I'll be in the Test side soon. The England team are playing brilliant cricket, it's such a good set up but I'm chomping at the bit to get in.

"Robert Key and Ian Bell are ahead of me at the moment in the pecking order so it's case of biding my time but getting big runs for Hampshire in the first division of both competitions will not do me any harm.

"I can't wait to get going, it's a passionate club and it's case of coming down here and rewarding the people here for the wonderful, positive things they've said about me.

"Warney spoke highly of all of the players, I believe they're a really good bunch of guys, and I can't wait to get in the dressing room. I think this is a team I'll enjoy playing for.

"You get into a comfort zone so it'll be good to get passionate about my cricket again."