It's typical, isn't it? England have a winning cricket team, yet there is still something wrong. Apparently skipper Michael Vaughan has been rude, not just to match referee Clive Lloyd, but to the South African media. Even some of the English press corps have jumped on the band wagon.

I know Vaughan. He is not a rude person. Competitive, yes; rude, no. How did Lloyd expect him to behave? Expect him to say: 'Thank you very much for fining me £5,000.. The umpires were right all along about the bad light.'

However Vaughan behaved during the hearing, Lloyd should not have made it public anyway. This has quite rightly attracted the interest of the Professional Cricketers' Association, who look after the England players' interests, and may well result in censure for Lloyd from the International Cricket Council. That would be right and proper in my view.

As for the South African press, they are portraying Vaughan and coach Duncan Fletcher as miserable and unco-operative. Would they have been saying these things if their team had won? I don't think so. It is a clear and very unappealing example of sour grapes. Frankly, I don't care how England behave, on or off the field, as long as they win.

OK, I'll revise that, because there are certain standards you have to keep to, otherwise the game might descend into anarchy. Anyone who saw me play cricket knows that I tried to play it in a decent spirit, but there were times when aggression was called for.

So what I am saying is that there is nothing wrong with the England team having a hard edge to them, if that is what it takes to win. Australia first did it under Allan Border, who would not socialise with his great pals David Gower and Ian Botham just to emphasise the new hard line he and his team were taking.

As Border once said to England batsman Robin Smith, when he asked if he could have a drink while batting, 'What do you think this is? A tea party?'

What is also satisfying is how well England have begun the one day series, even if they made a meal of defending 270 yesterday. Not so Glamorgan's Alex Wharf who has, for now, lost his place to Worcestershire's Kabir Ali.

After the first match it seemed like it might be for good, but Kabir was expensive in the second, despite dramatically snatching a tie after a nerve-wracking final over. Wharf played in the first place last summer because of an injury to Ali, so that should act as inspiration now because it will only take a slight niggle from any of the bowlers for Wharf to get another chance. I will be surprised if he does not get some sort of opportunity in a series, anyway, where the games will now come thick and fast.

Kevin Pietersen has been a revelation. Much has been made of his presence in the homeland he deserted a few years ago. Indeed, I began flagging it up as soon as his inclusion was announced. But he certainly seems to have something about him, as they say, because he has dealt well with the jibes and abuse which have come his way in the best possible manner - by putting runs on the board. A hundred no less in yesterday's second match.

Without wishing to be overly negative when he has done so well, it should be remembered that this is one-day cricket we are dealing with at the moment. It is very different from Test cricket. And the question will be asked a lot from now on - can Pietersen make the Test team?

I am sure he will get the opportunity some time, but I am yet to be convinced that his technique is of the highest quality. There is no doubt that he hits the ball very hard, but he seems to move an awful long way across his stumps in order to play balls to his favoured leg side.

That is a risky policy, which can prove especially troublesome when one is in bad form. Only one batsman I know of has been able to do that regularly and get away with it - that was a certain Vivian Richards. Now, if Pietersen turns out to be half as good as that chap, then we may have a decent player on our hands!

A final mention for the rather unimportant (not!) rugby match taking place in Cardiff on Saturday. The build-up has been quite extraordinary, indeed, quite ridiculous in its all-consuming obsession, especially in Wales.

For me, as I might have mentioned before, it is a difficult time of year - living in Wales, with a Welsh family. Welsh, but... being a lifetime England rugby supporter! All I will say is that Wales will never have a better chance. If Colin Charvis had been fit - not necessarily to play open-side because I reckon Martyn Williams should always play there anyway, especially with Wales favouring a wide game - then I might even have had made Wales favourites. But Wales will miss his ball-carrying, as England will miss that of the injured Martin Corry. It is too close to call. I'll be in France covering the Scotland match. Probably the safest place to be.