As Justin Langer, a true team-man, launched his autobiography in a Perth pub this week, Kevin Pietersen, another of the batting brethren, again found himself somewhat of an outcast in cricketing circles.

Langer's public admiration, make that man-crush, for opening partner Matthew Hayden, captain Steve Waugh and all things baggy green was, to be honest, cringe-worthy at times during a stellar 105-Test career.

Indeed, that love of the baggy green cap even went too far when he led teammates into England's empty dressingroom after Australia had claimed victory at Lord's on the unparalleled 2005 Ashes tour and tipped beer on Michael Vaughan's seat, something he concedes he was a "knob" to have done in the release of his memoirs: ‘Australia, You Little* Beauty'.

Langer, however, was - and is - a much-loved teammate, something the South-African born Pietersen will probably never experience.

During his time with South African development squads, Natal, Nottinghamshire, Hampshire and a brief captaincy stint of England alongside coach Peter Moores, Pietersen has polarised opinion.

As Shane Warne would attest, Hampshire is a more than accommodating county. But when Pietersen announced in June he would quit the club at the end of the season, Hampshire responded by declaring it would not again pick him, including overlooking him for the finals of the domestic Twenty20 series.

Pietersen, who has been in a form slump and still remains in one despite eking out a scratchy 80 against Pakistan at Edgbaston last weekend, has since had to make do with net sessions with new batting coach, Graham Gooch.

That, again, is another case of an "odd couple" pairing involving Pietersen, but at least Gooch has a record that demands respect - something which "KP" apparently doesn't always show.

Had Pietersen been truly "loved" by Hampshire, the club may well have been inclined to end the partnership on good terms. Instead, the club delivered this rather blunt statement: "Since Kevin has already made it clear that he intends to play cricket elsewhere next season, the club believes the team's best interests are best served by selecting those who have performed so well so far this season, many of whom are aspiring England players, themselves."

Ouch.

As it stands, few rival counties have shown interest in him.

Pietersen was said to have lacked warmth towards his Hampshire teammates, something former Australian coach John Buchanan also noted after England crashed to a three-day defeat in the 2006 Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Buchanan said Pietersen "talks about himself as a team player - I don't personally see any evidence of that, but that's from a distance". Buchanan, of course, was well aware of the headlines he was creating.

For the record, Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, James Anderson and Alistair Cook - all good friends who used to contest a highly competitive darts league on tour - were never close with "KP" and did not enjoy his brashness.

While Pietersen has struggled with the bat of late, he remains a key component of England's Ashes defence this summer. Runs, and plenty of them, will be needed. But so will off-field camaraderie, on what will be a long and demanding tour.

Remember, it was when Pietersen returned home injured on the last Ashes tour, albeit in the one-day tri-series, that England started winning and even handed Australia a stunning defeat in the finals. A coincidence? Some think not.

There's every chance Buchanan, now acting as a consultant for the English team, will be asked how best to orchestrate a harmonious dressingroom. Having experienced the gamut of emotions with some of the greatest names in Australian cricket - Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist et al - Buchanan could impart wise words.

So, too, Langer. Pietersen, for his part, could do worse than tap into this pair ahead of what looms as possibly the most significant series of his life.