Smith Says Cook Has Right Ingredients to Lead

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has warned the England and Wales Cricket Board that it could be making a big mistake by appointing Kevin Pietersen captain.

Smith said last night: "KP will always get you runs as a player. But I think the captaincy might curb his flair as a player. And you've got to look at who will make a difference in the dressing room.

"I thought they might appoint a younger bloke, like Alastair Cook, and build him up. That's what happened with me." Pietersen and Smith are arch rivals and the latter was once described as a "muppet" by the England player.

Smith also led the tributes to Michael Vaughan. "I'm very surprised Michael has gone. This is my second surprise this morning," he added referring to his dash down 12 flights of stairs after a false fire alarm at his Birmingham hotel.

"Anyone has seen he's been under pressure in terms of his own performance. We've all been there as captain. But it's a surprise that he's stepped down in the bowl-up to the Ashes.

"I've got a lot of respect for him as a leader. He always handled himself unbelievably well. It's a shock.

"He has a great ability to read the game. Speaking as a batsman, he had the ability to play with your mind in terms of the fields he set. He also went away from the conventional. He wouldn't just go for three slips and a gully. He would try different things.

"He'd also worked out playing in England. It was where he was at his best and where he had some of his finest results. He's a bit older than me but we started out on captaincy about the same time. He progressed a lot quicker than me in many ways. He got the team he wanted. He became an icon captain. And he can look back on some wonderful achievements."

After their record victory - it is 43 years since South Africa beat England in an away series - Smith wants a first series win in Australia since readmission to cricket. He has his chance at the turn of the year.

"We saw it in the Ashes - when England beat us at home - it can benefit you. It is still a fair bit away and Australia is a different challenge all together," Smith said.