'No ultimatum' on Pietersen - Cook

Alastair Cook has denied making any ultimatum over the possible England recall of Kevin Pietersen, but admitted he agreed to the decision not to include him in the team's plans for the summer.

It was reported in some media outlets that Cook had told Andrew Strauss, the new director of cricket, that he would resign as England captain if Pietersen were recalled. But Cook has denied any such conversation ever took place and insisted that he was not consulted in any way over Pietersen's future.

"There was no ultimatum," Cook said. "I can deny that. I don't know where it came from. It was a decision made by Andrew Strauss and Tom Harrison and we [the players] weren't consulted and we've got to start looking forward now.

"I want it to be that way. Strauss is a great leader of men and I trust him to make the right decision for English cricket. They described all their reasons for that decision. I'll let them do their job and hopefully they'll let me do mine.

"I do agree with the decision. This has gone on for 15 months now and we've got to start looking forward as a side. The story has been put to bed by the ECB."

But if Cook was supportive of the Pietersen decision, he was less effusive about the sacking of Peter Moores as coach. "We all feel for Peter," Cook said. "He was certainly a player's coach and the guys loved working with him. He helped all of us, really. As a player I loved my time with Mooresy.

"It was a really tough call that Andrew Strauss has made. He wanted a different kind of coach to take England forward. We're all disappointed but that's why Strauss is in that role, to make the big decisions he sees as best for English cricket.

"As players, we've just got to focus on the cricket and look forward to what's going to be a fantastic summer of cricket. We've got to get on with the game now and not worry about the external stuff."