Pietersen out of running for England one-day captaincy

Kevin Pietersen has ruled himself out of the running to be England's new one-day captain.

The Hampshire batsman, tipped for the post by Geoffrey Boycott, was thought to be in the running along with the favourite Paul Collingwood and Andrew Strauss.

Scroll down to read more:

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.

He said: "At this stage in my career I don't think it is the right time for me.

"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 confirmed he has spoken with England coach Peter Moores and the selectors.

Pietersen admits whoever gets the captaincy has a huge job on their hands to turn around England's fortunes.

He believes England neglected the one-day form of the game under Duncan Fletcher and the previous regime.

"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."

Pietersen believes Vaughan made the correct decision in standing down as captain and effectively calling a day on his one-day international career.

"Vaughan is a great leader. I think he has done it with the best interests of the country," he said.

"I think if he wants to prolong his career and win the 2009 Ashes as captain for all of us it was a good decision.

"With the current schedule your bodies take an absolute hammering day by day. He has got a crooked knee and let's hope it goes on for another two years in Test cricket."