'New job won't change my style'

LONDON (AFP) - New England captain Kevin Pietersen said Monday that he wanted to take his "instinct" approach as a batsman into his new role as leader of the team.

Pietersen, 28, was announced as England's Test and one-day captain, starting with the fourth and final Test against South Africa at the Oval from Thursday.

He said he did not believe the captaincy would affect the way he played.

"Time will tell. I hope it won't. It's a way I've been successful with so far in my career and something I want to try and keep at a real high level."

Asked what style he would bring to the captaincy, Pietersen said: "The way I play is very gut instinct orientated and I like to do things spontaneously. I like to do what I feel is right in a situation.

"I think over the years I've played cricket I've gained a good cricket brain. My gut instinct when I've been batting for England has assisted me tremendously. It's a brand new challenge for me and I love challenges."

He said he would captain England "with a smile on my face".

Pietersen paid tribute to Michael Vaughan, who resigned Sunday, and said he had "huge boots to try and fill. Michael was a great leader and a great friend."

He believed that Vaughan remained a great batsman and that after he had taken some time off he would go back to county cricket for Yorkshire and win back a place in the England team.

He said the invitation to captain England had turned his life around. He said he accepted the job after speaking to his wife Jessica and his parents in South Africa.