Graphic: Target man - how to solve a problem like Smith

Kevin Pietersen promised a bold and aggressive approach as captain and yesterday at the Brit Oval, as he revealed his first team, he was as good as his word. Pietersen's first public act as captain has been to restore Andrew Flintoff to No 6 in the team to face South Africa in the fourth Test starting today, a move that enables England to play five bowlers. Stephen Harmison and Stuart Broad return to bolster an attack that has struggled to bowl out South Africa twice and there is no place for Ravi Bopara.

Although Pietersen was at pains to suggest yesterday that Peter Moores, the head coach, had an equal say in the selection of the final XI, there is no doubt that this is a team that carries the captain's stamp. After all, Moores was part of the selection panel that chose Bopara and they must have expected him to play as it is rare to pick a spare batsman in a squad of 13.

But a captain is never more powerful than at the start of his reign and once Pietersen had decided on the balance of the side, which he did while chilling out on his sofa at home on Tuesday evening, Bopara was the obvious casualty. Ryan Sidebottom is the other.

Pietersen suggested that the left-arm seam bowler had been omitted on fitness grounds rather than form and that he was “struggling with a few niggles”. Questions will be asked of the medical staff now that they have effectively admitted that Sidebottom played in the third Test at Edgbaston well short of full fitness.

Sidebottom's injury concerns give an opportunity to Harmison to reignite an international career that many thought was over when he was axed after one Test of the New Zealand series last winter. He returns to one of his favourite haunts full of confidence after a season spent bowling quickly and well for Durham.

“Steve's absolutely buzzing,” Pietersen said. “He's got a little smile on his face. I'm giving him the responsibility to take the new ball again and I hope it goes well. I'm sure it will.

“I've had a great relationship with Steve over the last four or five years and there's a lot of trust there. He's fit and got the energy and buzz back after some time out. If you saw his spell to Fred [Flintoff] in the nets this morning, that was a hell of a spell and if he bowls like that this week, he'll cause all kinds of problems.”

Broad also returns with a ringing endorsement from the new captain. “He's an interesting character, young and fresh and with great ideas and a good cricketing brain,” Pietersen said. “I faced him this morning and the ball swung and he bowled beautifully. Coming in at No8, playing the brilliant shots he can play, will trouble a lot of teams.”

Greater responsibility now falls to the batsmen and Ian Bell, who moves up to No 3, in particular. Pietersen stays at No 4, Paul Collingwood moves to No 5 and Flintoff is entrusted with the No 6 position, something Michael Vaughan was reluctant to do. In the second Test at Headingley Carnegie, Flintoff admitted that he did not feel ready to bat at No6, but Pietersen is convinced that he is close to rediscovering his best form with the bat.

After a few difficult days during which they lost not one but two captains, there was a buzz about England as they went about practice for the first time under their new leader.

“Above all, I want us to get back to playing with pride and passion, with confidence and without fear,” the captain said. “We need to trust our preparation, our instincts and play with flair and freedom.” Uplifting stuff it was, almost Churchillian.