Kevin Pietersen began the healing process following his acrimonious departure as England captain with the first hundred of the Caribbean tour.

Pietersen struck a rapid 103, and Owais Shah also reached three figures, against a St Kitts & Nevis XI on the first day of an unofficial practice match at Warner Park.

Although he later revealed some lingering bitterness over his New Year demise, Pietersen was evidently pleased to allow his batting rather than off-field actions draw attention.

''What happened to me for a couple of weeks really, really hurt me,'' said Pietersen, who was persuaded to resign after calling for former coach Peter Moores to be removed.

''I have just got to really and truly get back to doing what I love.

''And when I cross over the white line, that is what I love.

''I love training, I love batting and I love scoring runs for England.

''It has been difficult but I am okay now; I would like a few questions answered first for everything to be gone but time is healing.''

Pietersen has maintained he only pushed for Moores' removal after being asked for his blueprint for the England team by his bosses at Lord's.

''I suppose it was frustrating because I did everything by the book, everything that I was supposed to do,'' said Pietersen.

''But it is done and dusted. I just wanted to get back playing cricket, back into the dressing room with the lads and there is no better place to do that than in the Caribbean.

''So today makes it worthwhile. To get back playing cricket is something I wanted to do and to get a hundred after everything that has happened is pretty satisfying.''

It was the perfect way to return to the ranks after just three Tests in charge of England.

''I knew it was never going to be a problem,'' Pietersen said.

''The media created a storm, not me.

''I loved doing the job, absolutely loved it, and I thought we were going to go in the right direction - the direction in which I wanted to take the team.

''Unfortunately that was taken away from me and I am a great believer in what is meant to be is meant to be.''

Pietersen's successor Andrew Strauss is effectively in charge of the tour, given that there is no coach in office, and has asked for his colleagues to take more responsibility for performance.

Such a scenario is something like Pietersen's vision for the future when quizzed by his England and Wales Cricket Board bosses over Christmas.

''That is probably one of my frustrations, yeah - what I wanted, he's got,'' said Pietersen, of Strauss' captaincy.

''But at the end of the day, I am not in charge, I am enjoying it and scoring a hundred is what turns me on, so that's good.''

Strauss fell for nought, to the second ball of the match, but his new unofficial right-hand man Alastair Cook contributed a half-century as England began preparations for the four-Test series.