August 4, 2008: Kevin Pietersen replaces Michael Vaughan as England's Test captain and also takes over the one-day captaincy from Paul Collingwood.
August 6: England's coach Peter Moores contacts Pietersen for "clearthe- air talks" with the new captain in Northampton. "Kevin will need support from me at times," he said later, "and I'll need support from him, and that's the way the coach-player relationship works. I'm excited that the challenge is out there to build that relationship now.
You try to balance between challenge and support all the time. What I like about him is that he has got a view." August 7: Pietersen's captaincy begins well as England bowl South Africa out for 194 on the opening day of the final Test at The Oval.
August 8: Pietersen scores century in his debut innings as captain, his 14th Test hundred.
August 11: Captain completes a fairytale week with England's six-wicket win over South Africal. Makes 13 in the second innings.
September 3: The summer ends on a high as England complete a 4-0 thrashing of South Africa in the oneday campaign.
November 1: After an uncomfortable week in Antigua, during which questions are raised about England's presence at Sir Allen Stanford's ground, Pietersen leads his side in a 10-wicket defeat in the Stanford Twenty/20 for $20m match.
November 26: England are left facing a one-day whitewash after India take a 5-0 lead in Cuttack.
November 27: The final two oneday internationals are cancelled following the terrorist atrocities in Mumbai. The squad returns to the UK to take stock.
December 6: After days of speculation about who will return to India, Pietersen takes all squad members to Abu Dhabi for a training camp. The waverers in the squad are persuaded to return to India for the two-Test series.
December 15: Despite dominating the Test in Chennai, England lose by six wickets after failing to defend a target of 387.
December 23: England and India draw the second Test in Mohali in which Pietersen hits his 15th Test hundred.
December 29: Pietersen reported to have sent a text message to Vaughan to apologise for his omission from the squad to tour West Indies.
January 1, 2009: Reports emerge of a rift between Pietersen, who had wanted Vaughan to tour, and Moores.
January 5: Talks between the ECB hierarchy and the men involved in the relationship-breakdown continue.
January 7: Pietersen reported to have resigned as England captain, and Moores said to have quit his role as coach.
Mark Tallentire© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2009
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