Nelson's Column... KP quits, Moores sacked

After a day of remarkable developments, Peter Moores has been sacked, Kevin Pietersen's resignation "reluctantly accepted" and Andrew Strauss named as the new captain.

It was the only possible conclusion to such a sorry mess. Moores and Pietersen's positions were untenable, the latter's after receiving underwhelming support from members of the squad. How KP fits back into the ranks could be the most interesting story of the tour to the West Indies, which commences later this month.

The ECB have much explaining to do. Pietersen didn't go public with his discontent so who has leaked the story? Why wasn't it cleaned up immediately rather than being late to fester for nearly a week? And why was KP named captain (by Moores ironically) if the two were already at loggerheads?

What do you make of the situation? Should Pietersen be dispensed with altogether? Is it wrong to sack Moores? And should Strauss be captain? So many questions. Give us your answers in the boxes below.

Comments

[roger epping essex]

the ecb has always been the old school brigade, just like the old days when it was genteman and players, can anyone tell me what messes morris miller and graveney (not the great tom) remember what happened to botham,sad day for english cricket, why do the ecb knock any player with apersonality IG tufnel lamb robin smith botham gower ???

[Matty]

i argee with tony-no man is bigger than his team-cricket a team sport-english cricket is in a mess,lets hope its sorted by the ashes series

[CHEEKY BOY]

The ECB ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF EVERYTHING BAD WITH THE GAME OF CRICKET.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN CLEEKISH ALWAYS WILL BE JOBS FOR THE BOYS.
KP AN IMMIGRANT HE MAY BE BUT WE HAVE OTHERS PATEL/SHAH/PANNISAR/RASHID GOT INTO THE ENGLISH TEAM ON MERIT AND GOT THE CAPTAINCY AS WELL.IN HIS SHORT STINT HE HAS NOT DONE WELL AGAINST POOR TO AVERAGE OPPOSITION BUT HE NEEDS THE TIME.
THIS SOUNDS JUST LIKE BOTHAM ALL OVER AGAIN..WHAT DID HE DO.WELL HE CAME BACK FROM LOSING THE CAPTAINCY TO SHOVE THE BAT RIGHT DOWN THE ECB'S THROAT.
COME ON ECB LETS HAVE YOUR RESIGNATIONS!

[Jon Wilkins]

I thought Strauss should have been made captain when KP was, so I am pleased he is now captain.

Last time he was captain his own form improved and the side won 3 or 4 out of the 5 matches that he was in charge.

Hopefully the rest of the side will now stop bickering and will support Strauss and win in the Windies and stuff the Aussies in the summer. They have the ability!

[tony]

KP couldnt get into his own countrys side,throw a strop...come to england...get big bucks...cant get own way...another big strop.No man is bigger than his team.

[steve]

The rot started with the appointment of Duncan Fletcher, it appeared to have the adverse effect, after the previous appointments.
As already stated money appears to be the root of it (IPL)plus the imaturity shown by Pieterson along with his shallow rhetoric.The whole issue is a shambolic joke, as was his appointment as captain.
If anything good is to come of it may lift the weight of captaincy from his shoulders & allow his undoubted talent to blossom ????
his shoulders

[Mike in Swansea]

Very sad news - a clash between a coach who has never played cricket at the highest level, and a captain whose ego and interpersonal skills seem to be sadly lacking. Glad to see Moores is going - let's hope the ECB sees sense and appoints a good former test player so that the team can look up to him. The rot started with the appointment of Duncan Fletcher.

[Topgun]

I must admit that I'm not aware of the details of this story but there are strong comparisons with the rugby world. After we won the world cup, the management of the game failed to move forward and to work with those managers and people who had current and up to date knowledge of the game as it was not like most of the management who tell us how it used to be in their day. Kevin is a rare talent whose views need to be respected. He also needs managing and the failure seems to rest with those purporting to manage the game. It's changed since your day mister!

[charlotte]

Pietersen left S.A. in a huff when he could not get into the cricket team and has complained about affirmative action ever since. He has now quit the captaincy of England in a huff - where to next Kevin - maybe Bangladesh or Ireland would be keen to take you.

[Mike]

The game needs a complete overhall from top to bottom.
Another good old english disaster, the team needs a ruthless attitude and a competitive edge all of which has not been seen recently. We are english and we need a good english captain not an outsider, can you imagine the aussies having a south african or a west indies captain NO!!!!
The stanford series did us no good other than make us look like a load of Diva's
money first and country second. KP will eventually go
to greener pastures

[Kieron]

I'm not so sure an Englishman would have quit so easily !!! Remember the tears & emotion in Micheal Vaughan's eyes when he resigned.

[david]

Money ruined football next is cricket!! qualified immigrants playing in our cricket team one big joke

[Alan in Kent]

Great stuff ECB, the best player we've had in a long while throws a strop. Looks like Moores is off as well. Brilliant preparation ahead of the Ashes. Well done give yourself a pay rise.

[Bill Dagenham]

What a joke English cricket really is. KP is showing his true colours, me me me me me and more me, and who cares about anyone else. The Aussies will love this, the IPL will love this as I expect KP will become a rebel and go and play over there to line his pockets.