Viewers, who were perhaps ruing the fact Quinton de Kock wasn't out in the middle, shared a collective laugh on the couch at home.
But it's largely been a positive start to the summer for the former English batsman, who shone on our screens during Channel 10's coverage of the Big Bash League last season.
Pietersen was prepared to have a crack at Australia's plans in the field yesterday, questioning why Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc bowled around the wicket. He also wanted an immediate change to the South African batting line-up - although his suggestion of moving de Kock to the top of the order fell on deaf ears.
"I think the one thing South Africa should have done in this Test, he should have opened the batting," said Pietersen, after de Kock top scored with 84 in South Africa's first innings.
"When Warner comes out, he's going to whack it (and) de Kock could have done the same this morning.
"He doesn't think too much, he keeps it very, very simple and in the nicest possible way.
I'm not being condescending at all. He literally doesn't think too much about the game."
Insight like that has been well-received by a notoriously cynical Australian audience.
Let's hope KP keeps up the good work. Of course, if long-time supporter Piers Morgan had his way, he'd still be doing something else.