Pietersen Feels the Buzz As England Prepare for Post-vaughan Era

As far as can be ascertained, Mills & Boon have never abandoned romantic novels in favor of reviving English cricket, but it appeared so yesterday, with Kevin Pietersen in the lead role. Some of you might presume England to be in crisis following the abrupt resignation as captain of Michael Vaughan, but it appears that they will face South Africa in the final Test at the Oval today as if gambolling into a glorious sunrise. Do not believe it. If there is a glorious sunrise, they are gambling into it, not gambolling.

Kevin Pietersen has many endearing qualities, a few of which might even be useful for captaincy. But for all his hyperactive desire to do well as he prepared for his first Test in charge, the essential point remains: on Sunday, the England captain most likely to win back the Ashes next summer resigned, his will suddenly spent. His relationship with his coach, Peter Moores, was not deep enough to sustain him, an extensive England support staff was an irrelevance, and hardly anyone in authority saw it coming. It is a mess of England's own making - and their chances in the Ashes have receded dramatically as a result.

Yesterday at the Oval was one of those times when life rushed on cruelly. Moores spoke of his shared ambition with Pietersen for "a fit, strong, vibrant England team playing positive, aggressive cricket." That was precisely his shared ambition with Vaughan. The sense is that Moores accepted Vaughan's departure too eagerly. He will live to regret it.

Pietersen was overflowing with empathy. Mention of any England player came with the revelation that he was buzzing, or that he was fantastic, or most often that he had a great relationship with him. This was most true of Steve Harmison, who is back in England's attack and who, it appears, is morose no longer. "Steve is buzzing, properly buzzing," said Pietersen. "I've had a great relationship with Steve over four or five years. The big man will deliver for us."

The new captain's enthusiasm encompassed laying out the fielding cones and organizing catching practice. If he nips off today just before tea it will be to put the kettle on and take the cling film off the sandwiches.

Surely no England captain has talked so much about relationships. Mike Brearley studied and understood them; Pietersen, whose ego often chafes, obsesses over them. Andrew Flintoff, not always a soulmate, when it was suggested he should return to No6, reportedly told him: "Whatever you want to do, I'm there for it."

Even Ravi Bopara - who with the crassness of youthful ambition had responded to a question about Michael Vaughan on Monday by saying that he did not want to talk about the past - was left out of the 13 with the accolade of being "a fantastic little fella."

There was mention for Vaughan, too, as Pietersen told that they had "spoken every single day" and that he had promised he "was there for me 24/7, whenever I need him." This last assurance was communicated by text message. "I have been under pressure ever since I came to England eight years ago, every day," Pietersen said. "This will be no different. I am just thinking about the positive. If it doesn't work out I'll be man enough to admit it."