Pietersen has lost his top ranking to Australian Ricky Ponting

The batsman scored just 42 runs in the three matches, losing his world number one ranking in one-day cricket.

"Right now I'm mentally fatigued, I'm just a very, very tired person," Pietersen told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I think I had a about a month off when I broke my rib in Australia, which was magnificent. I felt refreshed and I had a pretty sensational World Cup."

Interview: England batsman Kevin Pietersen

He said he was not unduly worried about his failures in the recent series.

"At the end of the day I've failed three times in a week and that's not going to make me lose any sleep.

"The problem would be if I kept failing and kept failing in the same way, if it was a technical flaw."

I'm not a robot. I'm going away now for a few days which isn't a real break but hopefully it will help in some way before the Test series against India Kevin Pietersen

Pietersen has called for more time off to be built into the international calendar to allow the top players to recover.

"The England team is a team that never, ever stops," he said.

"It's been a long, long three years and I haven't had a proper break to be honest with you.

"I know the issue is being discussed, not just amongst the players but amongst the England hierarchy and around the world.

"A good four to six weeks is about right for a proper break.

606: DEBATE It's obvious that he does need a rest so that he can get back into form WD

"I'm not a robot. I'm going away now for a few days, which isn't a real break, but hopefully it will help in some way before the Test series against India."

England's itinerary is hectic all the way to late September.

The first of three Tests against India begins on 19 July at Lord's.

Seven one-day internationals, also against India, follow and there is then the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.