Twenty20 / Editor / 21 June 2007 /

Kevin Pietersen has ruled himself out of the running to replace Michael Vaughan as England's one-day captain.

The world's top ranked one-day batsman had been among the list of players understood to have been considered by the selectors.

But the Hampshire ace has moved to end suggestions linking him with the captaincy, insisting the 'time is not right'.

Pietersen said: "It's something I've thought about long and hard but it's not the right time for me to do it.
"Now is the time for me to be doing team stuff - playing and supporting."

He added: "At this stage of my career, I've only played 50-odd one-day internationals and 20 or 30 Tests.
"I would be humbled in future to be given the opportunity to captain my country but not now.

"Whoever does get the job will get my full support. It's a new era, with new coaching staff and a good time for England cricket to go forward."

England coach Peter Moores will announce the new captain on Friday, when he reveals the squad for upcoming Twenty20 games and one-day internationals against the West Indies and India.

With Pietersen out of the reckoning, it seems almost certain that Durham's Paul Collingwood will get the nod for the captaincy.
The limited-overs squad's first task will be a Twenty20 encounter against the Windies at the Brit Oval on Thursday June 28.

England are the 1.46 favourites to win the first of two-game series, with the tourists trading at 2.92.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>