KP damages English team, says Cook

LONDON. — England captain Alastair Cook is “hurt” by accusations made in Kevin Pietersen’s controversial autobiography, believing they have “tarnished” the team’s highly successful period under former captain Andrew Strauss. Speaking for the first time since the release of Pietersen’s book “KP”, Cook refuted the sacked batsman’s allegations of a bullying culture in the England dressing room and said the furore caused has damaged the sport.

“I think it’s been a really sad week for cricket. We have to draw a line under it at some stage and this is a good time,” Cook told the BBC on Saturday.
“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 percent 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,” he added.
Pietersen was axed following the 5-0 Ashes defeat in Australia at the start of the year, with England inferring the South Africa-born batsman was not a team player.

Both he and Cook were part of the test side that topped the world rankings in 2011 under former captain Strauss, who led the team to back-to-back Ashes series wins. Cook then captained England to another Ashes win last year under the guidance of their now former coach Andy Flower, who has come in for heavy criticism from Pietersen.

“I am very proud of the 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 that,” Cook explained.

“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.” — Reuters.