Cricket: Kevin Pietersen Says He Has No Interest in Being England's Next One-day Captain

Kevin Pietersen today ruled himself out of the running to be England's new one-day captain, clearing the path for the favourite Paul Collingwood to take the job.

The Hampshire batsman, tipped for the post by Geoffrey Boycott, was thought to be in the running along with Collingwood and Andrew Strauss. But Pietersen insists the time is not right for him to take on the responsibility, though he would be "humbled" to captain England in the future.

"At this stage in my career I don't think it is the right time for me," he said. "I thought about it long and hard but right now I am happy playing and supporting the team like that. I would be humbled in the future to be given the opportunity to captain my country but right now I don't think it is the right time for me.

"Whoever gets the job [when the team is announced] tomorrow will get my full support. It is a new era now with a new coaching staff and a good time for England to move forward."

Pietersen, who confirmed he has spoken with England coach Peter Moores and the selectors, admits whoever gets the captaincy has a huge job on their hands to turn around England's fortunes. "It is a very, very big job. Ever since I have been playing in one-dayers, for almost the last three years, we have not won too many trophies," he said. "The one-day scene has been neglected. It has been more of a Test match environment.

"The schedules we play now are hard with Test match after Test match and then jumping into the one-dayers it can be a bit of a release. But we have to turn that around now because the World Cup wasn't the best of months for us. It is massive now that everybody buys into winning and a successful campaign with the one-day team. It will be a heck of a job."

Boycott had said the England selectors would be "chickens" if they did not name Pietersen as captain when the squad for the West Indies series is announced tomorrow. "Geoffrey has been very supportive and I thank him for that. It is fantastic to know that greats of the game are supportive," added Pietersen. "In the future it would be an amazing opportunity to captain my country. It would be an enjoyable ride. At the moment I am enjoying everything I have got now. It is very complimentary what he has said but don't think it is the right time now."