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Alastair Cook says he did not issue ultimatum over Kevin Pietersen Alastair Cook says he did not issue ultimatum over Kevin Pietersen
(35 minutes later)
Alastair Cook insists he did not issue an ultimatum to England’s management team before they decided to continue Kevin Pietersen’s international exile. Alastair Cook insists he did not issue an ultimatum to England’s management before they decided to continue Kevin Pietersen’s international exile.
Cook was heavily criticised by his fellow record-breaking batsman in Pietersen’s autobiography, and it was reported last week that he presented new England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss with a “him or me” decision for the Ashes summer ahead. Cook was heavily criticised in Pietersen’s autobiography, and it was reported last week that he presented the new England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss with a “him or me” decision for the Ashes summer ahead.
However, at his and caretaker coach Paul Farbrace’s press conference before the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, Cook categorically denied any such conversation took place. However, at his and the interim coach Paul Farbrace’s press conference before the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, Cook categorically denied any such conversation took place.
Cook said that Strauss, and the ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, decided to leave Pietersen out in the cold and to sack coach Peter Moores without any input from him or his team-mates. Cook said that Strauss, and the ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, decided to leave Pietersen out and to sack coach Peter Moores without any input from him or his team-mates. “There was no ultimatum. I can deny that,” said Cook. “There is nothing we can do about it as players. The decision has been made ahead of us, by Andrew Strauss and Tom Harrison.”
“There was no ultimatum. I can deny that,” said Cook. “There is nothing we can do about it as players. The decision has been made ahead of us, by Andrew Strauss and Tom Harrison.”
He said: “It wasn’t and isn’t my decision. I trust those that made the decision. I have to let management manage.”He said: “It wasn’t and isn’t my decision. I trust those that made the decision. I have to let management manage.”
Asked would he have played with Pietersen had he been selected, he responded by saying it was “not a relevant question”. Pietersen’s hopes of a return to the England fold before the start of the Ashes was effectively scuppered by his former captain Strauss, who cited a “massive trust issue” between the batsman, his erstwhile team-mates and the England and Wales Cricket Board.Asked would he have played with Pietersen had he been selected, he responded by saying it was “not a relevant question”. Pietersen’s hopes of a return to the England fold before the start of the Ashes was effectively scuppered by his former captain Strauss, who cited a “massive trust issue” between the batsman, his erstwhile team-mates and the England and Wales Cricket Board.
As Strauss was unveiled as the ECB’s new director of cricket, he nipped any talk of a return for the maverick batmsan in the bud. As Strauss was unveiled as the ECB’s new director of cricket, he nipped any talk of a return for the South Africa-born batsman in the bud. “We’re in a position now where there’s a massive trust issue between him and the ECB. It’s very much a two-way process. I’m not apportioning any blame. It’s happened over a number of years,” he said.
“We’re in a position now where there’s a massive trust issue between him and the ECB. It’s very much a two-way process. I’m not apportioning any blame. It’s happened over a number of years,” he said.
“No team environment can be sustained without a lack of trust. I’ve let him know he’s not part of our plans for the future, and I can’t give him any guarantees beyond that.”“No team environment can be sustained without a lack of trust. I’ve let him know he’s not part of our plans for the future, and I can’t give him any guarantees beyond that.”
The furore over Pietersen has torn English cricket asunder since his removal from the squad after the catastrophic Ashes defeat in early 2014. The man who sacked him then, the managing director Paul Downton, has since departed as have two England coaches in Andy Flower and Peter Moores.The furore over Pietersen has torn English cricket asunder since his removal from the squad after the catastrophic Ashes defeat in early 2014. The man who sacked him then, the managing director Paul Downton, has since departed as have two England coaches in Andy Flower and Peter Moores.
Cook said of Moores’ exit: “It was a tough call and we all feel for Peter Moores. He was a players’ coach, a guy who right on the pulse. Getting the best out of people was his real strength. As a player and captain I loved my time with Mooresy.” Cook said of Moores’ exit: “It was a tough call and we all feel for Peter Moores. He was a players’ coach, a guy who was right on the pulse. Getting the best out of people was his real strength. As a player and captain I loved my time with Mooresy.”
That the board’s position needed to be restated was, in part, down to the words of the incoming chairman and millionaire founder of the Costcutter supermarket chain, Colin Graves, who, at the start of March, told a radio interviewer that Pietersen’s England exclusion would continue unless he forewent a contract to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League and signed to play first-class cricket for a county, where runs could force the selectors into a rethink. That the board’s position needed to be restated was, in part, down to the words of the incoming chairman and millionaire founder of the Costcutter supermarket chain, Colin Graves, who, at the start of March, told a radio interviewer that Pietersen’s England exclusion would continue unless he signed to play first-class cricket for a county, where runs could force the selectors into a rethink.
While his removal as captain in 2009, due mainly to a fallout with the head coach Moores, in his first spell in charge, began the mutual distrust between Pietersen and the ECB, text messages sent to South African opponents about his captain, Strauss, three years later proved most damaging.While his removal as captain in 2009, due mainly to a fallout with the head coach Moores, in his first spell in charge, began the mutual distrust between Pietersen and the ECB, text messages sent to South African opponents about his captain, Strauss, three years later proved most damaging.
After three months on the sidelines and a stage-managed “reintegration” into the side, troubles returned on the tour of Australia under the captaincy of Cook, leading to Pietersen’s permanent removal in February last year. After three months on the sidelines and a stage-managed “reintegration” into the side, troubles returned on the tour of Australia under the captaincy of Cook, leading to Pietersen’s permanent removal.
His incendiary autobiography published last October, in which team-mates, coaching staff and ECB officials were dispatched to all parts, then made Pietersen’s stated aim of a return look somewhat optimistic.His incendiary autobiography published last October, in which team-mates, coaching staff and ECB officials were dispatched to all parts, then made Pietersen’s stated aim of a return look somewhat optimistic.