Kevin Pietersen up for Proteas clashes

England batsman Kevin Pietersen believes that this summer's series against South Africa will prove to be serious test of his side's abilities.

Pietersen and co first take on New Zealand, but the powerful right-hander already has one eye on the meeting with the country of his birth.

He told reporters: "We are going to have to move on to the next level if we are going to beat South Africa.

"That's going to be the toughest series we have had for a long time, apart from Australia.

"I know how South Africa play their cricket. I play like South Africa play their cricket - tough, in your face, will do anything to win and really knuckle down.

"It's going to be a hard series. That's the series we're looking at targeting to see where we are at, because it's going to be a pretty important summer next summer."