Pietersen resigns as England captain

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Hugh Morris faces his biggest test as the leading decision maker in English cricket as he wrestles with the very real possibility of having to sack the man he made England coach.More... Man on a mission Morris faces huge make or break decision over Pietersen and Moores row By PAUL NEWMAN Last updated at 1:38 AM on 02nd January 2009 Hugh Morris faces his biggest test as the leading decision maker in English cricket as he wrestles with the very real possibility of having to sack the man he made England coach. Morris, managing director of England cricket, has been told to sort out the row between Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores that threatens to undermine England’s realistic ambition of regaining the Ashes this summer. Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, has instructed Morris to talk to both the captain and coach over the weekend in an attempt to resolve an enmity that has festered since Moores became England coach 18 months ago and which exploded when Pietersen was over-ruled in his attempt to select Michael Vaughan for the tour of the West Indies. Strained relations: England skipper Kevin Pietersen and coach Peter Moores do not see eye-to-eye Morris was just about to embark on a well- earned holiday after playing a leading role in guiding England through the crisis that enveloped their tour of India following the Mumbai terrorist attacks. Yet that has had to be put on hold following Sportsmail’s revelation that Pietersen is prepared to quit as captain over his fractious relationship with the coach. It was only a few weeks ago that it was commonly considered that Morris was under-employed in a role that was introduced by the Schofield Review into English cricket. But the man who was felt to be an unnecessary extra layer of ECB management has turned out to be the crucial figure in a dispute that must be settled rapidly for the sake of the national team. The situation is a difficult one for Morris because he has invested so much time and money in Moores since Morris started working for the ECB in a technical role after retiring as a batsman with Glamorgan and England. Caught in the middle: Former England skipper Michael Vaughan's omission from the squad to tour West Indies has been at the centre of controversy The pair played England Schools cricket together and Morris fast-tracked Moores through the English coaching ranks to the point where he was the driving force behind the former Sussex coach’s appointment as successor to Duncan Fletcher. Yet a meteoric rise for Morris’s ‘golden boy’ has come to a sudden halt at the highest level, where Moores has fallen out with both the England captains he has worked with, Vaughan and Pietersen, and has overseen an 18- month spell in which the national team have lost Test series to India (twice), South Africa and Sri Lanka. Only the West Indies and New Zealand have been beaten in Test cricket during a reign where Moores’ in-your-face style and desire to ‘challenge’ the senior players has met with resistance from the England team. Andy Flower has been tipped as a possible replacement for Moores Morris is a natural conciliator and will try to get the captain and coach working together again but papering over the cracks could damage England’s chances of taking advantage of Australia’s slump. The breakdown in the captain-coach relationship may be too serious for Morris to mend. Time is short if the damaging situation is going to be resolved before England leave for the Caribbean on January 21 and the expense involved in removing Moores and his backroom team is an added complication. Cricket is not in the habit of wholesale sackings and Moores has surrounded himself with his own people, like fielding coach Richard Halsall and spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed. To pay them all off would cost English cricket around £1million and cause massive disruption. Yet Pietersen is in a powerful position, having been the leading figure in making sure England returned to India after Mumbai — a move that has improved relations between the ECB and the Indian board considerably — and is the only member of the England team capable of being captain of both the Test and one-day sides. It would be dangerous for Morris and chairman Clarke to call Pietersen’s bluff because he is not all-consumed by the captaincy and is prepared to go back to the ranks and concentrate solely on scoring runs. Highly- respected England batting coach Andy Flower could step into the breach if Moores went, possibly initially in a caretaker capacity. It would not be ideal but decisive leadership is required now more than ever.

[The Outsider]

A blind Vaughan is better that a clown like Bell. It looks like nothing but personal animosity on Moores' part to keep him out of the WI tour, specially since Pietersen wanted him. An in form Vaughan can seriously punish Australia from the number 3 spot.

[Sachinism]

KP Getting the boot ....LULZ Emergency meeting undermines Pietersen Cricinfo staff January 6, 2009 Kevin Pietersen: under pressure after Moores row © Getty Images In a surprise development, the ECB have called an emergency board meeting to discuss the rift between Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores. Cricinfo understands that the 12-man board met by teleconference on Tuesday night, raising the possibility that Pietersen, who had not been due back from his holiday in Africa until Thursday, may pay the price for his outspoken views on the future direction of the England team. Research conducted by the ECB in the last few days suggests that Pietersen does not have the steadfast support of his team-mates or the back-room staff. The majority of the England support staff are understood to be supportive of Moores while most of the players are underwhelmed by Pietersen's dramatic intervention, as Steve Harmison demonstrated with his ambivalent comments on Tuesday. There is also some sympathy towards Moores who, it is understood, was given the authority to select the England captain when Paul Collingwood and Michael Vaughan resigned, and there are those within the set-up who feel that Pietersen has betrayed the coach's trust. http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/385570.html

[EnterTheVoid]

Emergency meeting undermines Pietersen wtf is going on? first coach is threatened with the boot now the captain? oh, this is fun to watch

[Chandan]

Pietersen resigns as English captain!! Pietersen resigns as England captain Cricinfo staff January 7, 2009 According to reports on Sky News, Kevin Pietersen has resigned as England captain, following the ECB's emergency board meeting that took place on Tuesday evening to discuss his rift with Peter Moores. The 12-man board met by teleconference on Tuesday night, raising the possibility that Pietersen, who had not been due back from his holiday in Africa until Thursday, would pay the price for his outspoken views on the future direction of the England team. Now, however, it appears that Pietersen has taken his future into his own hands, and handed back the role he took on from Michael Vaughan barely five months ago. Andrew Strauss, who captained England in 2006 when Vaughan was out of the team with injury, is the hot favourite to lead them on the tour of West Indies, which begins in exactly a fortnight's time. Research conducted by the ECB in the last few days suggests that Pietersen does not have the steadfast support of his team-mates or the back-room staff. The majority of the England support staff are understood to be supportive of Moores while most of the players are underwhelmed by Pietersen's dramatic intervention, as Steve Harmison demonstrated with his ambivalent comments on Tuesday. There is also some sympathy towards Moores who, it is understood, was given the authority to select the England captain when Paul Collingwood and Michael Vaughan resigned, and there are those within the set-up who feel that Pietersen has betrayed the coach's trust. Attitudes towards Pietersen appeared to have hardened at board level. While few are completely convinced by Moores, they did not like the manner in which the captain has attempted to dictate events. As one board member told Cricinfo: "People who want to keep their jobs don't issue ultimatums." Whether Moores' position is salvageable remains highly debatable, however. There has been little evidence of progress under his tenure and his credibility may now be damaged beyond repair. A double departure - Pietersen and Moores - is a growing possibility. Meanwhile, the identity of Moores' immediate successor as coach has been shrouded in further confusion, after Warwickshire warned they may not necessarily keep Ashley Giles's job as the county's director of cricket open, should he be asked to fulfil a role as "stop-gap" coach in the Caribbean. Though Warwickshire will not stand in GIles's way if he is offered the job, his involvement in the West Indies would rule him out of any involvement in Warwickshire's pre-season plans and the club want to minimise disruption in the dressing-room. Furthermore, it is feared that Giles could recruit Allan Donald - currently Warwickshire's first-team coach - to help him in the Caribbean. :omg: So what'll happen now? The England fans were rejoicing that they'd win the Ashes easily this time. And England cricket hits this road-block!!

[EnterTheVoid]

Pietersen resigns as England captain Pieterson, u idiot you dont give Australia the ashes, they have to earn it themselves I actually thought you were decent captain. what the *** has gotten into you I hope Dhoni doesnt follow suite and resign due to the row between him and the selectors

[flamy]

India always hands some collateral PWNAGE. Gilchrist retired, PWNTing PWNED, Aussies dethroned, Kevinder Pitersingh goes walking, Symunds goes fishing, Hayden loses his form in a boxing ring....

[EnterTheVoid]

England in crisis Pietersen and Moores resign Cricinfo staff January 7, 2009 Five tumultuous months Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores have resigned as England's captain and coach respectively, leaving the ECB in complete turmoil following the emergency board meeting that took place on Tuesday evening to discuss the rift in the leadership of the team. The 12-man board met by teleconference on Tuesday night, raising the possibility that Pietersen, who had not been due back from his holiday in Africa until Thursday, would pay the price for his outspoken views on the future direction of the England team. Now, however, it appears that Pietersen has taken his future into his own hands, and handed back the role he took on from Michael Vaughan barely five months ago. According to Sky News, Pietersen has given as his reasoning the fact that the ECB did not act quickly enough in responding to his demands over Moores' future. Andrew Strauss, who captained England in 2006 when Vaughan was out of the team with injury, is the hot favourite to lead them on the tour of West Indies, which begins in exactly a fortnight's time. Meanwhile, Moores' departure comes as less of a surprise. His position became untenable following the revelations of the rift, and there had been little evidence of progress under his tenure and his credibility had been damaged beyond repair. Cricinfo understands that Andy Flower, Moores' assistant coach, will be offered the interim role for the West Indies tour, although it remains highly debatable whether he will accept the role in the current circumstances. Speaking to the News of the World earlier in the week, Pietersen said: "This situation is not healthy, we have to make sure it is settled as soon as possible and certainly before we fly off to the West Indies. Everybody has to have the same aims and pull in the same direction for the good of the England team." Research conducted by the ECB's director of England cricket, Hugh Morris, however, suggested that Pietersen did not have the steadfast support of his team-mates or the back-room staff. The majority of the England support staff are understood to be supportive of Moores while most of the players are underwhelmed by Pietersen's dramatic intervention, as Steve Harmison demonstrated with his ambivalent comments on Tuesday. There was also some sympathy towards Moores who, it is understood, was given the authority to select the England captain when Paul Collingwood and Vaughan resigned, and there are those within the set-up who feel that Pietersen had betrayed the coach's trust. Attitudes towards Pietersen appeared to have hardened at board level. While few are completely convinced by Moores, they did not like the manner in which the captain has attempted to dictate events. As one board member told Cricinfo: "People who want to keep their jobs don't issue ultimatums." The news brings to an end a tumultuous five-month reign. When Pietersen took on the role in August 2008 following Vaughan's resignation, he immediately declared that he intended to do the job "his way". With a maiden Test triumph over South Africa, followed by a 4-0 victory in the ODIs, his way was the high way during a heady honeymoon period. But all throughout his tenure, rumours of his dissatisfaction with Moores' methods were never far from the surface. Pietersen did not accept the job until he had had "clear the air" talks with Moores in the aftermath of Vaughan's resignation, and he later voiced his disapproval of Moores' dogmatic training methods that sapped the team's energy on their tour of New Zealand in March. Although Kent's coach, Graham Ford, had been touted as Moores' probable successor, his candidature had been raised with a view to finding a man who could work alongside Pietersen. Ashley Giles is another option, although Warwickshire have warned they may not necessarily keep his job as the county's director of cricket open, should he be asked to fulfil a role as "stop-gap" coach in the Caribbean. ******************************************************************************************************* England: The new Pakistan of world cricket?

[cochise]

Pietersen should leave the England team and join SA...he can go in for MacKenzie. :--D

[King Tendulkar]

OTT reaction from KP

[cochise]

OTT reaction from KP

I agree...he is not all that mature...you could see that from his rather pompous posturing in Mohali and speech unbecoming of a Captain when talking about pie-chucking and bowling filth etc. Not so much his resignation...I think may be things had reached the stage where it was a "him or me" situation...but in allowing it to get to this stage of ultimatums and resignation threats... Ah well...dramas, dramas everywhere...Both Oz and England in disarray...let the games begin!

[King Tendulkar]

So what does not get on with coach. Deal with it skipper. Also seem demanding Vaughan. You are captain not selector. Captaining your country is massive honour. To give it up after a few spats is ridiculous. Now he will be subjected to jibes about loyalaty to england or rather lack of it.

[cochise]

To give it up after a few spats is ridiculous. Now he will be subjected to jibes about loyalaty to england or rather lack of it.

Hee hee hee...SA would love to have him...or may be...he can get aussie citizenship and play for Oz! Haydos out...Pappuson in...not a bad trade! :cantstop:

[EnterTheVoid]

^^ reminds me a bit of gangs spat with chappell

[Mr. Wicket]

I've made my opinion of Pietersen the person clear in the past. It's sunk even lower.

[Fontaine]

^^ reminds me a bit of gangs spat with chappell

Maybe. Peterson didn't get along with Moores even before he was captain and the ECB knew this but still asked him to be captain and Peterson tried his best to work it out but England kept on losing. Ganguly, on the other hand, starting crying and whining to the media openly only hours after there was a disagreement with chappell.

[EnterTheVoid]

the only one laughing is ponting, and that too, from ear to ear shabash KP, u friggin loser

[factual]

Ha ha pieterson won a couple of one dayers against a tired south african team at home and makes big statements about how he will do this and that and ends up with a losing record full stop. Just another chapter in english cricket built on empty promises.

[punjabi_khota]

He realized his bluff was about to be called by the board, and hence had to act on it.

[Desi Cartman]

Lets blame IPL for this ...