Cook relieved to have an end to uncertainty

Cricket365
April 19, 2014

England captain Alastair Cook has expressed relief at the selection of Peter Moores as England head coach, saying he had not been enjoying the 'limbo' England had been facing since Andy Flower's resignation.

Moores was unveiled on Saturday after a protracted search by the ECB, ousting Ashley Giles from the role he had been playing since Flower's resignation after the Ashes tour to Australia earlier this year.

Cook, who was not part of the disastrous World Twenty20 campaign that sealed Giles' exit, nor the tour to the Caribbean, said he was looking forward to getting on with the much talked about 'new era' for the team.

A relieved Cook said at the press conference at Lord's, sitting next to ECB boss Paul Downton: "For me, it's a very exciting time.

"I've been in limbo over the last couple of months, since Andy Flower stepped down. To finally get to the day where we have a new coach, we can start planning for the future.

"It's going to be small steps and will take a bit of time to rebuild. But we have a huge amount of talent in the country, and it's a really exciting time to be an England player.

"Test places are up for grabs; one-day places are up for grabs; we've got a new leadership group."

Meanwhile, Moores was invariably asked about the retired Kevin Pietersen's role within the side, after the pair had a public falling out the last time Moores coached England, in 2009.

The now former Lancashire coach said: "The important point to make is I never fell out with Kevin. Kevin fell out with me. There's a noble difference."