Big-hitter Pietersen could give everyone sore heads

Kevin Pietersen will give England's selectors "a few headaches" this summer, according to Michael Vaughan.

But it's the skulls of home supporters that captain Vaughan is most worried about when Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff finally join forces.

England's two biggest hitters have not played together since Pietermaritzburg-born Pietersen became available, because Flintoff was rested for the pre-Christmas trip to Zimbabwe and then missed the recent one-dayers in South Africa following ankle surgery.

But they should be in partnership during this summer's limited overs internationals against Australia and Bangladesh, and all the signs point to Pietersen joining Flintoff in the Ashes Test team as well.

"If those two get going, you are going to need helmets on in the crowd," said Vaughan, guest of honour in London as npower announced they are to sponsor England's home Tests for a further two years, up to the end of the 2007 season, and pump in £7million.

The headaches for the selectors will come as early as May when they try to fit Pietersen into their Test team. Barring injuries elsewhere, only one of England's South African recruit, Mark Butcher, Rob Key, and Ian Bell are likely to play.

"Kevin will cause a few headaches by the way he played in the one-dayers in South Africa," said Vaughan. "To score three hundreds in the way he did, with the pressure he was under, tells me he's got an immense character. And you need character when you play Australia.

"But there's not just him, there are a number of other talented players: Butcher, Key, Bell. There are plenty of options."