Kevin Pietersen demands attention and provokes reaction as a batsman - and that is the role he will have to revert to in the West Indies after quitting as England captain.

Just five months after being named as Michael Vaughan’s successor, Pietersen’s stint as skipper is already over and he becomes, in theory, a rank-and-file member of the England team.

But the 28-year-old is unlikely to shrink into the background, for it is not his style, never has been.

His first major international series was a one-day campaign in his homeland of South Africa, one which began with deafening jeers and concluded with comprehensive cheers.

Great sportsmen have that ability to turn the tide of popular opinion, attract favour where it is more naturally repelled and gain admiration for their primal talent.

If Pietersen and Peter Moores could have made their relationship work, then England would now be looking forward to the Ashes with real anticipation, given Australia’s slump.

But such was the apparent personality clash, it was only a matter of time before they fell out.

Pietersen changed the minds of many South Africans with his three hundreds against the Proteas in the winter of 2004-05.

Never will he forget the symbolic impact of supporters turning their backs on him in Bloemfontein - when he made his first century - or the rotation of the crowd 180 degrees to applaud him off after his third at Centurion less than a fortnight later.

Pietersen left South Africa thinking, rightly or wrongly, the quota system had hampered his chances, English supporters were initially against his inclusion in the national side due to his Durban roots and opposition teams questioned his Englishness.

Yet he has excelled by being different, having that sense of other, the confidence to stand out from the crowd.

Image has been at the centre of Pietersen transcending his own sport and into the nation’s conscience.

A peacock strutting, a boy racer with go faster stripes, an ‘A’ grade showman, who never neglects the opportunity to select the most appropriate stages for the greatest impact, Pietersen craves public attention.

By quitting as captain of England he has been thrust into the spotlight once again, and now Pietersen must show humility on the upcoming tour of the West Indies where new skipper Andrew Strauss will need to be able to count on his full support.

Everything Pietersen has done in his career has been about furthering himself - switching countries, counties and positions in the crease.

He loves the game, its traditions and the chance to be integral to its future.

He might not be averse to the cameras or shy of publicity but he is driven by fame through sporting prowess.

There is not a more technically accomplished, more entertaining, more frustratingly brilliant batsman in the world today, which is why England need him so for the challenge of regaining the Ashes.

With a focused Pietersen on the team, England will be in a strong position to win back the urn. Anything less and Australia will be in a hugely advantageous position.

Pietersen played a key role in 2005, when England ended the Australian domination, and has been integral to the team ever since.

He lives for challenges, prepares in the pursuit of perfection in the nets, and after every great innings there has been a desire for another of greater quality.

Those are the qualities which led the ECB to his door when Vaughan stood down.

He smashed a hundred in England’s six-wicket win over the Proteas at the Brit Oval in his first Test at the helm, and completed a fine first month in the captaincy with a 4-0 thrashing of the South Africans in the one-day international campaign.

The fairytale start turned sour in November when England returned home from India due to the Mumbai terror attacks, already well beaten in the incomplete ODI series.

Reports of a rift between Pietersen and coach Moores emerged last week, culminating in the captain’s resignation.Tonight he said: "I am extremely sad and disappointed to have to relinquish the captaincy at such an early stage, especially in a crucial year for English cricket, in such circumstances and particularly when I feel that I have much more to offer the England team as captain.

"However, this decision will not affect my determination to continue playing international cricket for England, doing all I can to win matches for the team and supporting whoever captains the team in the future."