Alastair Cook said Kevin Pietersen’s revelations have tarnished the most successful era in English cricket and dismissed claims that there was a bullying culture inside the dressing room.
Speaking for the first time about Pietersen’s allegations, Cook told the BBC: “It’s been a really sad week for cricket. After talking to quite a few of my team-mates on the England team, we have to draw a line under it at some stage and this is a good time to do that.
“I am very proud of that era I have played in; to win three Ashes, to become the best side in the world; to play with some great players. I really only have fond memories of it.
“I am incredibly proud to have contributed in that period. To play under Andrew Strauss, to have played under Andy Flower as coach, I have only got respect for these guys. I do believe that era has been tarnished, and I am sad about that.
“I have known Andy since the Essex dressing room, when he took me under his wing as a player. Obviously, your relationship changes as a head coach and captain and I only have respect for him as a man, and as a coach. He was an amazing coach for our side. Chatting to some of the guys about it, they feel the same. A lot of the success was down to his drive and determination to make us a tough England side.”
In his autobiography published this week Pietersen claimed a bullying culture existed led by coach Andy Flower – something Cook simply does not recognise.
“International cricket is a tough place and, as a team, you’re striving for excellence at all times. Certainly at some stages those frustrations boiled over more than they should have done, but that was only people who were desperate to succeed and wanting to know the other 10 blokes around them were committed 100% to it also.
“Did it overstep the mark a couple of times? Possibly, but we addressed those issues. That’s what happens in teams, but it certainly wasn’t a bullying environment as such.”
Pietersen was most critical of wicketkeeper Matt Prior, describing him as “backstabbing” and “bad for the environment” of the England team. Cook was shocked at such suggestions.
“It’s sad that he could be remembered like that. He’s put everything in to that England shirt and can be incredibly proud.
“Matty is a great man and has been a fantastic servant to English cricket,” he said. “He has to be remembered as a guy who put his heart and soul on the line for England. The team was all that mattered to him.”
