Where it all began with Faulkner: KP

They're two confident, competitive individuals from rival cricket nations so it was little surprise that James Faulkner and Kevin Pietersen took some time to warm to one another when they came together at the Melbourne Stars ahead of the BBL|04 season two years ago. 

Since, Pietersen and Faulkner have become good mates and anyone who follows their social media pages will be well aware that they're close enough pals to inflict a bit of public 'banter' on one another as well. 

Quick Single: Even breaking bats, B-Mac's on a winner

But in a recent interview with cricket.com.au, the man known as 'KP' revealed that the enmity between the two - of more specifically, on the side of firebrand Faulkner - began much earlier than when they teamed up at the Stars. 

In fact, it was in the heat of the Ashes cauldron, when the Tasmanian played his only Test to date, at The Oval in London in August 2013. 

It's a contest better remembered for the maiden hundred of Steven Smith and a bizarre finish in which Australia almost conspired to lose a match they'd dominated for four days, despite having already surrendered the Ashes. 

But Pietersen remembers a brash 23-year-old who was more than prepared to go toe-to-toe with one of the biggest names in the game.

"We're now very good mates," Pietersen told cricket.com.au. "We had a great lovers tiff - well we weren't lovers then, in the first Test match that he played.

"It was quite funny, some of the banter that was happening. 

"It was his first Test match and he came out and started spraying me. 

Quick Single: Dunk trades shirts, retains friendships

"I turned around and I said, 'Mate, I don't know your name - I've got absolutely no idea who you are.

"You can say what you want but until I learn your name I just won't engage. 

"He kept going, so I just turned around to the umpire, Aleem Dar, and I said to him, 'Aleem, who is that stood next to you?'

"And Aleem said, 'I don't know'. So that got it off and going!"

Quick Single: Pattinson focused on BBL return

Given the amoung of stick they're prepared to give each other on social media, it's rather fitting that the pair's relationship began with such hostility. 

But KP insists that's all now very much water under the bridge. 

"We've been brilliant (since), absolutely brilliant," he said.  

"When you play against people, it's totally different to sharing a dressing room. You can see from all the social media engagement that we're pretty tight."