KP: I had a ball with Vaughan

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Vaughan, who led England to their 2005 Ashes triumph, is expected to announce his retirement from all cricket at a press conference at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Pietersen said: "Michael Vaughan was huge to me. I remember one of the first things he said to me - coming in at The Wanderers to play South Africa in that huge series when 60,000 people were looking as if they were going to kill me. He walked up to me in the middle of the wicket and said 'The ball is white; the ball is round, you know what you've done to get here, just watch it as hard as you can'."

He added: "That calmed me right down, from being a gibbering wreck walking on to that field to the player that I am now because that's all I do now. I just watch the ball.

"That's why when people say in series where the opposition is right at you I normally succeed because all I do is watch the cricket ball. I don't think about any rubbish. I just watch it."

Pietersen also believes the timing of Vaughan's decision to retire is typical of the class he has demonstrated throughout his career.

He said: "It's brilliant. That just shows what a great man he is. He always knew when the right time was to do anything - tactics-wise, when he batted etc.

"He's a good, good guy. To let Straussy know to continue leading the team and Ravi Bopara know, to continue going in at number three without having to worry about anything - the timing is perfect.

"He is a great leader of men, and you learn a lot from guys like that. He's left us in really good shape and good hands. Straussy still communicates with Vaughany. I do too, and I know a lot of the senior players still do."