Kevin Pietersen's long-awaited Hampshire debut has been delayed after he dropped out of the Frizzell County Championship Division One match against Gloucestershire at the Rose Bowl.

Pietersen, who made a huge impression while playing for England in South Africa during the winter, was forced to miss the game because of a stress reaction in his left foot.

The disappointed Pietersen 24-year-old said: "I would love to have played but the injury is still not quite right and it is best to rest it for a few more days.

"I am aiming now to play on Sunday against Essex in the totesport League with a chance to face Darren Gough."

Pietersen sat among a small crowd as Hampshire mustered a meagre 197 after Shane Warne had decided to bat first in overcast conditions and after a 30-minute rain delay.

Gloucestershire finished the first day of the season on 118-2 a deficit of 79 runs.

Jimmy Adams and Michael Brown gave the hosts a flying start with 63 in only 22 overs but they were both out at the same score.

Australian left-hander Simon Katich was the only batsman apart from the openers to offer any prolonged resistance with a defiant and unbeaten 72.

Swindon's Jon Lewis found plenty in the wicket to aid his swing bowling and dismissed Kenway, Nic Pothas and Richard Logan to finish with 3-51.

When Gloucestershire batted, the Hampshire attack failed to find the same devil in the pitch and opening batsmen Chris Spearman and Phil Weston put on 80 with little trouble.

Spearman made a crisp 34 before he provided Warne with his first wicket of the season.

Weston made a sound half-century and had reached 66 before getting an inside edge from Ervine to leave Gloucestershire 112-2.

Kadeer Ali and nightwatchman James Averis saw Gloucestershire through to the close without further mishap.

SCOREBOARD

Second Test Match, Wellington: Sri Lanka 211 (T T Samaraweera 73, C S Martin 6-54) & 10-1, New Zealand 522-9 dec (L Vincent 224, S P Fleming 88, W P U J C Vaas 6-108).

Frizzell County Championship Division One, The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 197 (S M Katich 72 no), Gloucestershire 118-2 (W P C Weston 66); The Brit Oval: Sussex 171-4 v Surrey; Edgbaston: Glamorgan 198 (M T G Elliott 84, A F Giles 6-44) v Warwickshire 68-0.

Division Two, Derby: Worcestershire 305-6 (G A Hick 80, S D Peters 55) v Derbyshire; Chelmsford: Essex 224-2 (W I Jefferson 149, G W Flower 55 no) v Yorkshire; Old Trafford: Lancashire 235-7 (M B Loye 53) v Somerset; Grace Road: Durham 325-3 (M E K Hussey 165 no, G J Muchall 82, J J B Lewis 50) v Leicestershire MCC; University Match, Canterbury: Kent 104-6 v Cardiff UCCE; Trent Bridge: Loughborough UCCE 164 (G J Smith 5-19) v Nottinghamshire 67-0.