Pietersen puts faith in Shah

Owais Shah is set to bat at number three in the NatWest Series against South Africa

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Kevin Pietersen's first decision in his new role as England captain has been to promote Owais Shah to number three in the one-day team's batting order.

Since being appointed captain just before the final npowerTest against South Africa, Pietersen has had little time to think about his options for the NatWest Series against the tourists, which comprises a Twenty20 international and five one-day internationals.

But as England warmed up for Wednesday's Twenty20 showdown at Chester-le-Street with an inaugural one-day international against Scotland at the Grange, Shah was firmly established at number three.

The Middlesex batsman did not get the chance to showcase his talent in the new position, with England's chase of a victory target of 159 being abandoned after only 2.3 overs following heavy rain, but it signals a change of policy under Pietersen's reign.

"Owais is going to bat at number three for the simple fact that I think he was wasted at number seven," explained Pietersen.

"He's a high-scoring, quick-scoring cricket player who plays cricket shots to get boundaries and I think down the order he was wasted.

"When he has played for us, he's always done really well. He got a one-day hundred against India last year and has got runs this year and I am going to give him the confidence to bat at number three with myself at number four.

"I haven't thought about the Twenty20 side yet but there's definitely a strong case for Owais getting a good opportunity to bat and play long innings for England."

In addition to establishing Shah in a new position, Pietersen also pushed the recalled Matt Prior to the top of the order and watched Andrew Flintoff make an impressive one-day international return with 3-21 as Scotland were restricted to 156 for nine in a match eventually reduced to 44 overs a side.

"It was definitely useful because we got a side out there to run around in the field and to see the options available to me, certainly from the bowling front, was great," enthused Pietersen.

Former England man Gavin Hamilton hits out during his fine innings of 60 for Scotland at the Grange

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"It was good to have a side out with seven of the players getting a bowl and it showed we have a lot of strength and depth.

"It's key now to identify players and roles in the team. I've identified how I want to play and it's a case of getting the confidence in the players to do what they need to do and that's what I'm prepared to do.

"I want to give the guys a good run at it and concentrate on a specific role so when something happens and you need to change, at least I've identified the roles the players need to play and they can just slot in and slot out, it's not a case of doing one thing on one day and another thing on another day."

Former England and Yorkshire all-rounder Gavin Hamilton, who played one Test against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1999, top-scored for the Scots with 60 off 119 balls, including four fours and three sixes, before becoming the first of Flintoff's three victims.

"The England game is as big as it gets, it's just a sad and disappointing end to what potentially could have been a semi-decent game," said Hamilton.

"As soon as the fixture came out there was a major buzz around the team. It's a game everyone wanted to play in, it was an incentive for everyone to do well during the summer.

"England versus Scotland speaks for itself. We're not saying by any stretch of the imagination we were going to win but potentially something could have happened."