England appointed Kevin Pietersen as their new captain yesterday following Michael Vaughan's resignation after the series loss to South Africa.

Pietersen, 28, will lead England against his native country in the fourth test against the South Africans starting at The Oval on Thursday, the England and Wales Cricket Board said.

"I am very thrilled and excited to have been given the opportunity to captain England," Pietersen said in a news release. "It's a huge honour for me and a challenge for me at this stage of my international career."

South Africa took an unbeatable 2-0 series lead when they defeated England in the third test at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Saturday.

Vaughan stepped down on Sunday after five years as England's most successful test skipper with 26 wins from 51 tests.

Pietersen, who made his test debut in the 2005 Ashes series victory over Australia, was also named as the England one-day captain in succession to Paul Collingwood, who resigned on Sunday.

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