STAR batsman Kevin Pietersen last night lauded a gripping first day of the Ashes series saying: “The Welsh crowd made us feel so special.”

The England number four top-scored with 69 on a dramatic day that saw the hosts end on 336 for seven, a score that just gives them the edge over the Aussies.

After months of preparation, and plenty of criticism over the decision to give Cardiff an Ashes Test, a sell-out 16,000 crowd was treated to 90 overs of enthralling cricket in the sunshine.

“We enjoyed it and the atmosphere was really good,” said Pietersen. “Ashes cricket is special and we were made to feel very special.

“A lot has been written and talked about leading up to the Test but Wales put on a wonderful, wonderful show and we are really pleased to have been part of such a special occasion in Cardiff. It was fantastic,” he added.

Pietersen looked on course to treat the fans to a Test ton before getting out in a manner that will once again put him under the spotlight.

With England on top, he attempted an outrageous premeditated sweep off the bowling of spinner Nathan Hauritz.

He failed to abort the shot despite the much-maligned off-spinner drifting the ball way outside off stump and a top edge found its way to Simon Katich via Pietersen's helmet.

Nonetheless, the batsman was unrepentant and believes it hasn't stopped England working their way into a dominant position.

“When you get out you get out,” he said. “There's nothing you can do about it and I played the shot pretty similarly to how I had all day.

“He outfoxed me a little bit but if it hadn't hit my helmet then it probably would have gone down to fine leg and I would have got a single.

“At 336 for seven we could be greedy and say we'd like to be four or five down. Myself and Paul Collingwood probably missed out on getting a really good score.

“But we will take that given the way the first days of the last two Ashes series have gone. The promising thing is that Nathan Hauritz was spinning it off the straight – not many Test wickets do that on day one.”