Australian cricket legend Shane Warne warned former Hampshire team-mate Kevin Pietersen he would need to "reconsider his whole outlook" as he takes over as England captain.

Pietersen, 28, was officially unveiled as England captain at Lord's on Monday following the resignation of Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood as England's Test and one-day captains.

Warne said Pietersen now needed to become "a giver not a taker".

"Kevin Pietersen now stands at a crossroads in his life as well as his career," Warne told The Times.

"Being England captain will take up more time than he can imagine and he will need to reconsider his whole outlook.

"Within the game worldwide he has a reputation as being an individual, but to be successful a leader must be a giver not a taker - to his team, fringe players, sponsors, the public, everyone.

"Hopefully his captaincy will be similar to his batting: positive, instinctive and entertaining."

AFP