Melbourne, Jan 9 : Kevin Pietersen's good friend and former Hampshire teammate Shane Warne has warned that Pietersen would be an even more dangerous and committed player now that he has relinquished the England captaincy.

Pietersen resigned from his leadership duties on Wednesday after a bitter feud with coach Peter Moores, who was sacked soon after Pietersen quit.

As Pietersen prepares to head to the West Indies as a rank-and-file player under new skipper Andrew Strauss, Warne said his controversial mate would become an even more threatening cricket animal.

London, Jan 9: The offer from Kevin Pietersen to replace Peter Moores as England head coach was `not taken seriously' by legendary spinner Shane Warne.

Writing in The Times today, Warne reveals that he did receive a tongue-in-cheek approach from Pietersen via text message, but turned it down.

Warne, who would require a salary way beyond the 250,000 pounds earned by Moores, distanced himself from the England job.

Sydney, Jan 9: England's new cricket captain Andrew Strauss believes that his troubled team has time to heal before taking on Australia in the Ashes.

Strauss vowed to restore unity in the squad following Kevin Pietersen's dramatic resignation as skipper and the sacking of coach Peter Moores on Wednesday due to a rift between the two.

Dubai, Jan 9: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has made a superb start to 2009 by becoming the number-one ranked ODI bowler in the world again.

The left-arm spinner, who turns 30 later this month, has taken six wickets in the first three matches of the current series against the West Indies at an impressive average of just 12.33 and a thrifty economy rate of 3.08.

In the process he has moved above Australia's Nathan Bracken into top spot in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers.

Lahore, Jan. 8 : Controversy doesn't seems to leave Shoaib Akhtar; just when it seemed that he was on his way back to the playing arena, another one is in the making after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gave him a central contract despite a court case against him being still pending, and his long standing involvement in indiscipline and fitness issues.

Former players and cricket officials have openly criticized the PCB for giving Akhtar a contract in the `A' category.

Sydney, Jan. 8 : Forgotten Australian opener Phil Jaques has declared that he is available to return for next month''s tour of South Africa.

With Hayden showing no signs of retirement, Jaques, 29, declared his availability for the crunch tour as he tries to return from back surgery on a bulging disc.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the left-hander thinks he has the runs on the board after scoring 108 in his last Test against the West Indies in Barbados last year.

He will play club cricket next week and then return to the first-class scene when NSW play Tasmania in Newcastle on January 30.

If his back shows no signs of more problems, Jaques appears a must-have selection for South Africa after averaging 47 in his 11 Tests.