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Flintoff denies role in Pietersen's removal
Source: Agencies |
January 15, 2009, Thursday
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Print Edition
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ENGLAND allrounder Andrew Flintoff denied suggestions that he agitated for the removal of Kevin Pietersen as captain.
Pietersen quit last week in the wake of his dispute over Peter Moores' suitability as coach and Flintoff was widely reported to be on Moores' side in a divided squad.
Pietersen told the England and Wales Cricket Board that, with Moores in charge, he felt unable to lead the team on a tour of the West Indies later this month. Moores was fired and Pietersen quit, but Flintoff told the Daily Mail that he wanted both to continue in their roles.
"I supported Kevin as captain and I also enjoyed working with Peter," Flintoff said. "It is a shame that things had to end the way they did. I guess something had to happen, but I probably didn't realize how serious it was between them."
Flintoff insisted that the squad, which is just six months away from an Ashes series against Australia, was united behind new captain Andrew Strauss and stand-in coach Andy Flower ahead of the tour. "I'm confident it is something we can do and I'm happy when we all get back in that changing room, we'll move on and there will be a laugh and a joke and away we go," Flintoff said. "It has been a difficult couple of weeks with everything that has gone on."
ECB chairman Giles Clarke said Pietersen put the board in an "impossible situation" after his criticism.
"The ECB was faced with an impossible situation and it raised issues that had very serious implications for the game," Moores told the Daily Telegraph. "It has been a very difficult time and when the issue arose it was obvious it was going to be horrendously problematic, but a lot of people have behaved with great dignity throughout, not least Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores."
Clarke said he was pleased that Pietersen had committed himself to work under Strauss.
"The matter has been dealt with decisively," Clarke said. "Andrew Strauss is the captain and will be a fine leader, and it is very encouraging to see the players stressing their commitment to pull together under his leadership. I am delighted that Kevin has reiterated his desire to play for England and actually I think he has handled the whole matter with great dignity. I am a great admirer of him as a player and I look forward to him scoring 10,000 test runs."
Pietersen quit last week in the wake of his dispute over Peter Moores' suitability as coach and Flintoff was widely reported to be on Moores' side in a divided squad.
Pietersen told the England and Wales Cricket Board that, with Moores in charge, he felt unable to lead the team on a tour of the West Indies later this month. Moores was fired and Pietersen quit, but Flintoff told the Daily Mail that he wanted both to continue in their roles.
"I supported Kevin as captain and I also enjoyed working with Peter," Flintoff said. "It is a shame that things had to end the way they did. I guess something had to happen, but I probably didn't realize how serious it was between them."
Flintoff insisted that the squad, which is just six months away from an Ashes series against Australia, was united behind new captain Andrew Strauss and stand-in coach Andy Flower ahead of the tour. "I'm confident it is something we can do and I'm happy when we all get back in that changing room, we'll move on and there will be a laugh and a joke and away we go," Flintoff said. "It has been a difficult couple of weeks with everything that has gone on."
ECB chairman Giles Clarke said Pietersen put the board in an "impossible situation" after his criticism.
"The ECB was faced with an impossible situation and it raised issues that had very serious implications for the game," Moores told the Daily Telegraph. "It has been a very difficult time and when the issue arose it was obvious it was going to be horrendously problematic, but a lot of people have behaved with great dignity throughout, not least Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores."
Clarke said he was pleased that Pietersen had committed himself to work under Strauss.
"The matter has been dealt with decisively," Clarke said. "Andrew Strauss is the captain and will be a fine leader, and it is very encouraging to see the players stressing their commitment to pull together under his leadership. I am delighted that Kevin has reiterated his desire to play for England and actually I think he has handled the whole matter with great dignity. I am a great admirer of him as a player and I look forward to him scoring 10,000 test runs."
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