W tells Rosanna Greenstreet about embarrassing hairdos, getting sacked and why he is batting for the endangered white rhino...
Born in South Africa, Pietersen, 39, was first selected to play for England in 2004. The following year, the batsman was part of the Ashes-winning team. Briefly England captain in 2008-9, he was also Player of the Tournament in England’s 2010 T20 World Cup win, but his international career ended in 2014 when the England and Wales Cricket Board sacked him. Now a commentator – with an eye on this summer’s upcoming Ashes – he also campaigns to save the white rhino. His podcast, Beast of Man, is on Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds. ‘KP’ is married to former Liberty X singer Jess Taylor – the couple has two children and homes in South Africa and Wentworth, Surrey.
When were you happiest?
I am at my happiest when I don’t have any shoes on and I am in the African bush with my family.
What is your greatest fear?
Bringing up my children in the world of social media. It really scares me.
What is your earliest memory?
Playing sport with my brothers – two older, one younger – in the garden in Natal. We played every sport in the different seasons – so rugby, cricket, football.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Impatience.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Rudeness.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
When you end up on the front pages of papers, middle pages of papers and back pages of papers for the wrong reasons, it’s never ever fun. The worst time was my break up with English cricket – it was really sad.
Aside from a property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?
Cars. I’ve had Ferraris, Aston Martins and now a Tesla.
What is your most treasured possession?
My family.
What is your wallpaper?
My wife and children on safari at my lodge, Umganu, on the banks of the Sabie River in the Kruger National Park.
What would your superpower be?
To be invisible.
What makes you unhappy?
Extensive travel.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I am very comfortable with who I am, I don’t dislike anything. I do regret that stupid hairstyle I had when playing the greatest Ashes series!
If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?
The northern white rhino. If we don’t act now, by 2025 they’ll be gone, and that’s not going to happen on my clock.
What is your most unappealing habit?
I bite my fingernails sometimes.
What is your favourite smell?
The smell of thatch when walking into my lodge in Africa.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A pilot or a ranger in the bush.
What is top of your bucket list?
I want to see the grizzly bears in northern Canada, the gorillas in Rwanda and to visit Antarctica.
Is it better to give or to receive?
Give.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Chocolate.
What do you owe your parents?
Everything. Mum looked after four boys and dad was a civil engineer. You realise, when you become a parent yourself, exactly how much your parents do – the nappies they changed, the opportunities they gave you. Then you really start to appreciate them.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My wife and my children Dylan, 8 and Rosie, 3.
What does love feel like?
Peaceful, no stress.
What was the best kiss of your life?
Jess and my kiss when we got married in Castle Combe, Wiltshire.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
I am not really a person who wants to socialise. I am a very boring person.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
When commentating, “That’s a brilliant shot” or “Why did he do that?”
What is the worst job you’ve ever done?
Nappies aren’t fun!
What has been your biggest disappointment?
The way that I left English cricket. I got sacked – I was scapegoated for the Ashes tour in 2013/14 and there was a bitter battle between the English Cricket Board and myself that went on for a few years. It just wasn’t good for anyone.
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
The births of my children. They were the most magnificent and emotionally beautiful days for Jess and me.
When did you last cry, and why?
When I saw a rhino carcass a few months ago in Kruger National Park.
How do you relax?
In Africa, in the swimming pool and on safari. In the UK, I play golf almost every day.
How often do you have sex?
Since March 24th, I’ve been on 31 aeroplanes, so it’s been quite difficult!
What is the closest you’ve ever come to death?
Being charged by a white rhino on a walking safari. It came running towards us and I froze, which is the right thing to do. A rhino weighs 2 tonnes and the earth was moving beneath us. If it had hit us it would have been goodnight.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Less travel.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Ashes 2005, beating Australia in Australia, beating India in India, being man of the T20 World Cup when we won in 2010. I’ve been lucky enough to have achieved some pretty cool things.
What keeps you awake at night?
Nothing, I sleep like a baby.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
We Weren’t Born to Follow by Bon Jovi.
How would you like to be remembered?
As somebody who helped protect and save the rhino.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
You’ve got two ears and one mouth, listen more than you speak.
Where would you most like to be right now?
In my lodge.
Kevin Pietersen: Beast of Man is on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds. Go to: bbc.co.uk/beastofman
