Kevin Pietersen is named England captain

England National Selector, Geoff Miller announced at Lord’s Cricket Ground at 1pm today, that Hampshire's Kevin Pietersen has been awarded the England captaincy.

Pietersen will lead England in the forthcoming 4th nPower Test match on the 7th August at The Brit Oval and the NatWest Series against South Africa commencing on 22nd August at Headingley.

Born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa on 27th June 1980, the right-handed batsmen qualified to play for England in September 2004, his eligibility due to his English mother.  Pietersen joined Hampshire in the same year, making his debut against south coast rivals Sussex at Hove in 2005.

In 2005, Pietersen won Man of the Match in the inaugural Twenty20 Cup match against Australia at The Rose Bowl.

In 2006, he scored 158 in only his second Test at Lord’s in the 1st Test against Sri Lanka.  He was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2006.

Pietersen scored his second Lord’s Test hundred in the 1st Test against the West Indies in 2007.  A career best Test score of 226 followed in the 2nd Test at Headingley, winning a well deserved Man of the Match award.  Only Sir Donald Bradman has scored more Test runs in his first 25 Tests. 

Pietersen is the second Hampshire player to captain England.  The first was Lionel Hallam Tennyson the 3rd Baron Tennyson, who captained Hampshire between 1919 and 1932, and captained England for three Test matches against Australia in 1921.

ECB National Selector, Geoff Miller, said: “I would like to thank both Michael and Paul for their outstanding contributions to the leadership of the Test and the One-Day teams. I am delighted that they will both continue to make themselves available for selection as players.

 “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 that 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.”

Kevin Pietersen said: “I am very thrilled and excited to have been given the opportunity to captain England. It’s a huge honour for me 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 4th npower Test Match and I will be devoting all my energies to ensuring that the team is properly prepared and plays to its full potential starting on Thursday.”

Hampshire Chairman Rod Bransgrove said:

“We are delighted for KP as he takes on this fantastic new challenge, this is a very proud moment for everyone concerned with Hampshire cricket.  I am sure I speak on behalf of all our members, fans and staff in wishing him every success as England captain. ”

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