What if: Kevin Pietersen played for South Africa?

One of the most talented and accomplished batsmen in England, Kevin Pietersen, was born and raised in South Africa.

His cricket was also developed in the 'Rainbow Nation' and he even played domestic cricket there.

Initially, he started off as an off-spinner but in coming to England and playing county cricket helped him hone his batting skills and become one of the most enterprising batsmen in world cricket.

But what if KP never made the switch and decided to stay and play for his country of birth?

England don't win the Ashes in 2005

One of the greatest Test series to ever be played was eventually won by the hosts, England, and Pietersen was one of the star performers here.

His batting was crucial to England winning and getting back the coveted urn as it was his first Test series and he was an unknown quantity.

The way he took on the Australian bowling was a far cry from the more cautious and methodical approach from the English batsmen and that helped give an x-factor to the English batting which was badly missing previously.

He scored 473 runs at an average of 52.55 and a strike-rate of 71.45 with a game-saving 158 in the final Test to help England win the Ashes.  

An all-conquering Proteas team

From the year 2006 all the way to 2015, South Africa were undefeated in Tests away from home but they were never the force the Australian team was in the 90s and the early to mid 2000s.

The Proteas were solid but not stunning and they could have been a truly dominant force if they had the likes of Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Kevin Pietersen in the same batting line-up.

A middle-order with the likes of AB and KP would be the stuff of dreams for South Africa cricket fans and nightmares for the opposition bowlers. 

Who knows, with Pietersen in the team, the Proteas could well have won some ICC silverware to their rather barren trophy cabinet, despite always producing great cricketers and being a force to be reckoned with.