Alastair Cook denies giving ECB ultimatum over Kevin Pietersen

London England captain Alastair Cook insisted yesterday he had issued no ultimatum that led to Kevin Pietersens ongoing exile from the national sideAlastair Cook and Kevin PietersenAfter Andrew Strauss the England and Wales Cricket Boards new director of cricket confirmed Pietersen would remain in the international wilderness where the starbatsman has been for some 15 months since the teams 50 Ashes thrashing in Australia reports emerged that Cook had issued a him or me ultimatum to his new players and had threatened to resign if the South Africaborn Pietersen was recalled to the sideHowever Cook speaking to reporters at Lords yesterday said the decision over Pietersen had been taken by Strauss and new ECB chief executive Tom Harrison aloneThere was no ultimatum I can deny that said Cook I dont know quite where that came from There is nothing we can do about it as players The decision has been made by Andrew Strauss and Tom Harrison the opening batsman added ahead of Thursdays first Test against New Zealand at LordsBut although he wasnt a party to the decision Cook said he supported Pietersens continuing absence from the England team I do agree with the decision yes he said But the decision was made by those two Strauss and Harrison Thats what their new roles are and they made that very clear when they were talking to the team This thing has gone on for 15 months now and weve got to start looking forward as a sideSince Englands recent 11 series draw in the West Indies Strauss has also presided over the sacking of England coach Peter Moores with assistant coach Paul Farbrace now in caretaker charge Its been an interesting two weeks added Cook Im responsible for the team out on the field and the 10 other guys who are going to be with me on another fantastic occasion at a great ground Cook explainedWeve got to focus on that and all the external stuff is now focused on other people added Cook one of several senior England figures criticised in Pietersens controversial autobiography published last year Ill let them do their job and hopefully theyll let me do mine As for working with Farbrace while England continue to look for a permanent successor to Moores with former Australia fast bowler turned Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie a leading candidate Cook said Its another challenge to have an interim coachI think its my fourth coach as a captain over the last two years There are always challenges to deal with and its great to have Farby here Strauss told Pietersen his predecessor as England captain that a massive trust issue prevented him being recalled for this seasons home internationals with New Zealand and AustraliaThat appeared to contradict earlier comments from new ECB chairman Colin Graves that a return was possible if Pietersen scored enough runs in county cricketUnfortunately for Pietersen and indeed the image of the ECB Strauss told him he would remain frozen out of England contention shortly after the 34yearold had scored his maiden firstclass triple century during Surreys County Championship match against Leicestershire at The OvalPietersen currently sidelined with a calf injury reacted angrily and he suggested Wednesday that his ongoing omission from the side might hamper Englands search for a new coach with Farbrace the only candidate willing to take the job while he was still barred from the international setup He might be the only one who wants to use a team thats not allowed to be at full strength Pietersen the only qualified England player the selectors cannot pick currently told breathesportcom