Skunk then, Brylcreem now © Getty Images Enlarge

Denis Compton and David Beckham have football in common and Beckham and Kevin Pietersen have pop star wives in common but what connects the three is Brylcreem, the perennial British stamp of style and stardom. KP will be the new face of the men’s hair-care product after signing a deal worth nearly ₤2 million.

"Those are pretty big shoes to fill, but I'm eager to bring my individual style and personality to the table,” Pietersen said on becoming the Brylcreem Boy a decade after Beckham first endorsed the product. Brylcreem’s marketing boffins said Pietersen had all the qualities required - great looks, easy charm, and a touch of flair. It’s a long way from the time in 2005 when a Brylcreem poll saw Pietersen’s hairstyle – he then sported a skunk-like blonde streak across the middle of his head - voted among the worst in showbiz.