KEVIN Pietersen is now a Surrey player it will be interesting to see whether his spell with the Lions can develop into a lasting relationship.

Sadly his track record suggests this is unlikely.

I have no doubt that weather permitting he will score a stack of runs between now and the end of the season but even if he does the Surrey fans, players and more importantly the management at the Oval will want to see if Pietersen still has the appetite for County Cricket.

Since moving from Nottinghamshire to Hampshire in 2004 he has only made a handful championship appearances.

From day one Pietersen has only had his eye on one thing; playing international cricket.

When he sensed that the door was closed for him playing for South Africa, Pietersen came to the UK and as soon as he was qualified to do so was selected to play for England.

What will concern Chris Adams, who has been at pains to stress that Pietersen is only a fixture at Surrey until the end of the season, is that a more permanent move may be forced upon him.

Pietersen has said he wants to be based in London, given that Middlesex have given him the brush off that only really leaves Surrey, which brings me onto my next point. Hampshire don't want to have anything more to do with Pietersen. Angus Fraser, Middlesex's director of cricket has said neither does he. Why is it that Pietersen is detested so much?

When he left Nottinghamshire Pietersen's team-mates threw his kit over the dressing room balcony at Trent Bridge.

This season, despite a number of injuries, Hampshire turned down the chance to play Pietersen on T20 finals day and were vindicated when they carried off the title without him.

Hopefully Pietersen realises that is about time he started winning friends and influencing people. But can a leopard really change his spots? It promises to be an interesting end to the season at the Oval.