Love him or loathe him, there can be no denying that Kevin Pietersen has been one of England's most important cricketers since he made his debut back in 2004.
The number four batsman will feature for the 100th time in the Test format of the game tomorrow when The Ashes gets underway in Brisbane.
So, with that in mind, Sports Mole has looked back on the 33-year-old's Test career to date to select five of his most memorable innings.
5. Vs. Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2012
The disastrous tour of Abu Dhabi and Dubai to face Pakistan and a 75-run defeat to Sri Lanka in Galle meant that England had lost their first four Test encounters of 2012. In that match Pietersen had made just 33 from his two innings, but he returned in Colombo for the second Test with a point to prove. Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott had put the tourists into a good position, but they were taken up another level by Pietersen. From the outset he attacked the spin and went on to make 151 runs from 165 deliveries. It was an innings that included six sixes. He was also at the crease unbeaten on 42 alongside Cook when England sealed an eight-wicket win, thus stopping the rot.
4. Vs. New Zealand, Napier, 2008
With the series locked at one victory apiece, Pietersen took to the crease against New Zealand with England's innings about to flat-line. Openers Cook and Michael Vaughan had gone for just four runs, while Strauss, whom Pietersen had replaced, followed for a duck. Ian Bell would soon be dismissed for nine, which would leave the visitors 36-4. Some had claimed that Pietersen was neither comfortable nor capable of digging in, but he rubbished that school of thought with a patient knock of 129 from 208 balls. His contribution helped England to record 253 runs and set them up for a series triumph.
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3. Vs. Australia, Adelaide, 2010
Four years on from a nightmare at the same venue, where England had declared on 551 in the first innings (with a 158 from Pietersen) and still lost by six wickets, they were back. There would be no lapse this time, though, when Pietersen came to the crease with England 176-2. He started conservatively, but as time wore on, he loosened up. He would finish with a personal score of 227, with the highlight being a six off the bowling of spinner Xavier Doherty. England went on to win the Test by an innings and 71 runs.
2. Vs. Australia, The Oval, 2005
Eighteen years of pain would be ended if England could play out a draw from the final Ashes Test at The Oval. They were teetering on the brink, though, on 67-3 when Pietersen entered the fray. He survived earlier scares from the bowling of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, before going on to make an explosive 158, which included 15 fours and seven sixes. The 285 minutes that he spent at the crease would prove vital as England got the draw that they needed to win The Ashes for the first time since 1987.
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1. Vs. India, Mumbai, 2012
England were hammered during the first Test in Ahmedabad, which in turn left them facing an uphill task to win the series. After all, they had not tasted success in India for 27 years. To have any realistic chance of defying the odds, they needed to win next time out in Mumbai. The hosts had been bowled out for 327, but thanks to Cook and Pietersen, England took the initiative. Skipper Cook made 122, while Pietersen's flair shone through as he hit 186 runs, having faced 233 balls. England would go on to win the Test by 10 wickets and later the series 2-1.
Liam Apicella
