Kevin Pietersen typically confident ahead of 100th test

Brisbane: 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.