England's Kevin Pietersen on brink of an unlikely century Double ton: Kevin Pietersen celebrates his milestone at Adelaide in 2010. Three years ago, when England last visited the colony to inflict serious Ashes pain, Kevin Pietersen scored a blazing double century at Adelaide Oval. It took rain late in the day to stop him. On the eve of that series, Shane Warne was doing precisely what he's doing now: needling the visitors with outlandish public statements. His best was about Pietersen, a close friend. Warne labelled Pietersen an "outcast" - a loner who was deeply misunderstood by his teammates. On the eve of that series, the remarks were dynamite. Because of the inane media policy of many sporting teams - particularly in international cricket - it wasn't until Pietersen scored his double ton in Adelaide and faced reporters shortly after stumps that the "outcast" claim could be put to him. The question went down like most of the Australians' catching during that Ashes series. "Who?" snapped Pietersen when asked if he was, indeed, the outcast that some had suggested. Shane Warne said it, KP. You might have heard of him. He's kind of a big deal. "I dunno," Pietersen fired back. We're asking you. It was easy to recall that exchange last year when it was revealed that Pietersen had sent derogatory texts to South African players about England's then-captain Andrew Strauss during a Test. He also held bizarre press conference during the series that indeed indicated he was very much the outsider that Warne had spoken of. "It's tough being me playing for England," Pietersen infamously said. Strauss wrote of that time in his recent autobiography: "The England cricket team are in crisis again. Coach Andy Flower and I have found ourselves in the middle of a destabilising and potentially damaging PR game between Kevin Pietersen, the England cricket team and the ECB. Pietersen arrived at Brisbane Airport on Sunday before the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, and walked out to the team bus with head down, dark sunglasses on, earphones in, and if he wasn't wearing an England team uniform you would've mistaken him for a rockstar, or a rugby league player who's played seven first-grade matches. It's often difficult to tell the difference. Pietersen will give a rare media conference on Tuesday before his 100th Test for England, and whatever comes from his mouth will be interesting to hear. His relationship with the English cricket press has been frosty at best since the text scandal involving Strauss, and that includes The Daily Mail's Paul Newman, who helped Pietersen write his autobiography. As Newman wrote this week: "I used to have an excellent relationship with Pietersen, helped him write his first book in those heady early days and supported his promotion to the England captaincy when many others had their doubts about his suitability. As it turned out my belief that he had a shrewd cricket brain and leadership would be the making of him proved hopelessly nave as the other great crisis in the Pietersen years - when he was asked to resign just a few months after taking over because of his attempted ousting of coach Peter Moores - demonstrated. Despite his Beyonce-like attitude, Pietersen is the type of evil genius that will make for compelling viewing throughout the entire summer. Along with the cement-footed Stuart Broad, he will be one of the main reasons why thousands will tune in or feel obliged to tell him via social media why he's a fraud, followed by an imaginative hashtag. Such is fandom these days. Sport would be a snooze without its villains, and we paint them that way regardless of whether they're people of substance just beneath the surface. The State of Origin concept was built on a foundation of rampant NSW hate directed at Queensland captain Wally Lewis. As those who know Lewis will attest, he's really as gentle as your favourite old uncle. It's easier to dismiss someone than try to understand them, and so it is that Pietersen is one of the most misunderstood players in world cricket. Of course, an intriguing parallel can be drawn between Pietersen's battle with teammates, and the internal conflict that has torn the Australia side asunder in the recent years. The division was so deep just over a year ago, Pietersen offered this after a Test at Headingley: "I can't give any assurances that the next Test won't be my last. I'd like to carry on but there are obstacles that need to be worked out. There are other points I'm trying to sort out in the dressing room. Evidently, he did. He was the third highest runs scorer during the Ashes series, and looms as a lethal player this summer. His record against Australia is outstanding. The hosts, meanwhile, have only just put to bed the Clarke-Watson division that has ostensibly haunted the side for three years. They talk of a cosy and united dressing room, but the proof will be in how close they goes to winning back the urn. Then again, if you're making runs, or taking wickets, it doesn't really whether you're inside or outside the team. That's when it's not so tough being Kevin Pietersen.