Pietersen's falling out with coach Peter Moores led to both men losing their positions on Wednesday, just weeks before England depart for their tour of the West Indies.

For ex-England captain Hussain the pain of another self-inflicted wound in the body of English cricket was hard to take ahead of this year's Ashes series.

"It's surprising how English cricket continues to shoot itself in the foot just before an Ashes series," he said.

Pietersen only became England captain in August after Michael Vaughan's tearful resignation.
Hussain said: "The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) knew exactly when they gave Kevin Pietersen the job, what sort of guy he is.

"That's why I thought they gave him the job, because he was abrasive, he was going to be in your face and take people on.

"They must have known it was eventually going to come to a clash between Pietersen and Moores."

But Hussain also criticised the conduct of Pietersen, not due back from a holiday in his native South Africa until Thursday.

"You can't just sit on safari in South Africa and issue ultimatums to the board about the England cricket captaincy. It is far too important for that."

Moores took over after the 2007 World Cup from Duncan Fletcher, one of England's best coaches and the man who oversaw their 2005 home Ashes success.

"England had a fantastic coach in Duncan Fletcher," said Hussain, who was captain when the former Glamorgan boss took over in 1999.

"Peter Moores's only mistake, really, has been to follow Duncan Fletcher because he was a really hard act to follow."

Under Moores, England won eight, lost six and drew eight of 22 Tests but seven of those wins came against West Indies and New Zealand, two teams below them in the world rankings.

And their win over South Africa - in Pietersen's first Test in charge in August - came when the series was lost.

Mike Atherton, another ex-England captain, said when Pietersen was appointed it would "all end in tears".

Now cricket correspondent of The Times, he told the paper's website: "I was concerned how it would affect his form... as it turned out, his form has not suffered at all as he has continued to score runs.

"But I also wondered how he would get on with the England management as he had a history of clashing with hierarchy and he came into the job not seeing eye to eye with Peter Moores.

"Nobody has come out of this well. The ECB's judgment in appointing Moores as quickly as they did will be questioned. So will Pietersen's judgment in how he has dealt with Moores."

Allan Lamb, like Pietersen a South Africa-born batsman who played for England, said the row had made English cricket look ridiculous.

"We are a laughing stock at the moment, we are a total shambles... and Pietersen is to blame for that."

Opening batsman Andrew Strauss, a far less flamboyant figure than Pietersen, will take over the captaincy having previously led the team to a series win over Pakistan in 2006 when Michael Vaughan was injured.

Nick Knight, who like Strauss was a left-handed opening batsman, said it would be a mistake to underestimate the former Middlesex skipper.

"I keep hearing he is a 'safe pair of hands' and I think that's a bit unfair," Knight said. "I think he is better than that. He is his own man."