CAPTAIN K.P

Just three years after making his international debut KP is now the most powerful player in the English game.

Pietersen's, promotion comes after Vaughan's emotional resignation from the Test job following the disastrous series loss to South Africa and his shocking run of form.

The colourful 28-year-old is England’s 74th Test captain - and he also takes over the one-day side from Paul Collingwood.

Pietersen was always regarded as favourite for the two roles after Vaughan and Collingwood stood down from their positions yesterday.

The selectors wanted one man to captain all three international sides, rather than continue with the split captaincy method they have adopted over the last year.

The Hampshire batsman, who failed to secure the one-day captaincy when the selectors chose Collingwood a year ago, fought off candidates such as Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Kent captain Robert Key.

“I’m very thrilled and excited to have been given the opportunity to captain England,” said Pietersen, who will lead England for the first time as Test captain in Thursday’s final Test against South Africa at The Oval.

Honour

“It’s a huge honour and a terrific challenge for me at this stage of my international career.

“I have learned a great deal about leadership from playing under both Michael and Paul and fully appreciate the level of responsibility that comes with the job of captaining your country.

“My immediate priority will be this week’s fourth npower Test and I will be devoting all my energies to ensuring that the team are properly prepared and play to their full potential, starting on Thursday.”

National selector Geoff Miller, who heads the selection panel which chose Pietersen, confirmed his role as an established member of all three international teams was a key factor.

Miller explained: “In choosing a new captain, we were keen to identify a player who could lead the team in all three forms of cricket and bring fresh enthusiasm and ideas to the role of captain.

“Kevin is a world-class player who will command the respect of the dressing room and I am sure he will be looking to lead from the front and work closely with both the players and the coaching staff to bring England success in the future.”

Pietersen will lead a squad showing just one change from the one which slumped to a five-wicket defeat at Edgbaston to secure South Africa’s series win - with Essex’s Ravi Bopara replacing Vaughan, who has chosen to take a break from the game.

But the squad for the NatWest Twenty20 international and five-match one-day international series shows several changes with key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff coming in to replace Hampshire’s Dimitri Mascarenhas. >p>Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior has earned a recall as a replacement for Tim Ambrose, who scored just 10 runs in five innings in the recent series defeat by New Zealand, while uncapped Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel is included for the first time.

Left-arm spinner Patel is also included in the England Lions squad to face the tourists in Leicester on August 14, while Simon Jones is included for that 50-over match - the first time he has been included in an international squad since 2005.

Emerging Kent opener Joe Denly will also report for the Leicester match while the England selectors have given recognition to Middlesex’s Twenty20 Cup triumph by including three players - Owais Shah, Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan - in the Lions squad to face South Africa at Derby in a one-day match on August 16.