Pietersen typically confident ahead of 100th test

Kevin Pietersen says his relationship with teammates is good and he's as confident as ever ahead of his 100th Test match for England.

The South Africa-born batsman was greeted with a barrage of tabloid criticism after arriving in Brisbane, venue for the first Ashes Test starting Thursday.

Pietersen told a news conference he enjoys the lively and combative cricket coverage but said his confidence has been confused with arrogance.

Pietersen says "I've got to be confident in my ability. As a South African coming to England, I had to really fight some tough battles and had to be single minded in achieving what I've had to achieve -- I can't help people thinking I'm arrogant."
 

The 33-year-old Pietersen made his Test debut in England's Ashes-winning series in 2005.