4 Sep 2008

Pietersen warns England over complacency

6:59 pm on 4 September 2008

England's new cricket captain Kevin Pietersen has warned his team he won't tolerate a slide into a comfort zone after wrapping up the one-day series against South Africa.

Despite seeing his hopes of a 5-0 whitewash shattered by the Cardiff rain, with only three overs bowled before the fifth and final match was abandoned, Pietersen says he's satisfied with the progress made.

Pietersen won his one Test match in charge in August before leading his team to third place in the ICC world one-day rankings with a 4-0 series win over the country of his birth.

The return to form and fitness of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been key to England's success and coincided with Pietersen's elevation to captain.

The Lancashire player finished on top of both the batting and bowling series averages and won the man of the series award.