England axe hanging over coach Moores

A rift has developed between Peter Moores, left, and England captain Kevin Pietersen.


Hugh Morris, the managing director of the England cricket team, will spend the weekend deciding whether to sack the coach, Peter Moores, and is likely to cancel a holiday scheduled for next week if he fails to reach a conclusion.

Morris must choose due to a rift between the coach and Kevin Pietersen, the captain, who feels that Moores is out of his depth and the relationship between the two is damaged beyond repair.

The decision will be the most difficult of Morris's professional life as Moores is one of his closest friends in the game. The friendship goes back to when they played for the England Schools Under-19 side in 1981. Morris was one of Moores' strongest backers when the former Sussex coach replaced Duncan Fletcher in April 2007.

Giles Clarke, the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, said yesterday: "All team matters are dealt with by Hugh Morris. There will be a full review of the tour of India, which was a difficult tour in view of what happened before it. I don't believe all this stuff I'm reading about Michael Vaughan."

That was a reference to reports that ­Pietersen is threatening to quit over Vaughan's exclusion from the England squad to tour West Indies this month. Pietersen did want Vaughan in and Moores did not, but a source close to the ECB said last night: "The Vaughan issue is something of a red herring. The problem goes back further than that."

The crux of the problem is that the England captain is bright enough to realise he is not quite bright enough, at least where the tactical nuances that made Vaughan such a fine captain are concerned.

Pietersen has not been taken by Moores' boot-camp philosophy and, like Vaughan before him, feels that Moores, a county player who never got near Tests, is not up to it. Moores has lost four of his seven Test series and the likes of Monty Panesar have not progressed. Moores, Pietersen and Morris were unavailable for comment.

Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores rift intensifies for England

Exit this way: Peter Moores and Kevin Pietersen rift looks set to be decided by ECB

England looked like having to decide between keeping Kevin Pietersen as captain or Peter Moores as coach after the star batsman called for an end to the duo's "unhealthy" relationship.

According to reports, there appeared "little prospect" of the pair working together on the upcoming tour of the West Indies, where England will look to gather momentum ahead of their bid to reclaim the Ashes later this year.

The News of the World said there had been a "complete breakdown in what was an already fraught relationship" while attempts by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Hugh Morris to broker a peace deal between Pietersen and Moores now had an "impossible" chance of success.

Pietersen, who broke off from a holiday in his native South Africa to hold talks with Morris on Saturday, stopped short of calling for Moores's sacking.

But the 28-year-old said: "This situation is not healthy, we have to make sure it is settled as soon as possible and certainly before we fly off to the West Indies.

"Everybody has to have the same aims and pull in the same direction for the good of the England team."

Contrary to earlier reports, the NoW said the exclusion of former England captain Michael Vaughan from the West Indies squad was not the cause of Pietersen's bust-up with Moores, insisting the pair had already fallen out.

Meanwhile, former England captain David Gower believes Pietersen will win the power struggle.

"It's a bit of a mess but I've got a feeling Kevin Pietersen will get his way," Gower said.

"I think they (the ECB) are going to have to go with their captain because their captain is a mightily important figure in what happens this year and over the next few years.

"I think they are going to have to back their captain."

However, a "dressing-room source" told the newspaper: "There is no way Pietersen and Moores can work together, they're just too far apart.

"The ECB are damned if they do and damned if they don't. If they back KP, then there's massive problems among the backroom staff.

"But if they go with the coach, then the best player becomes disillusioned, they possibly lose a captain and there is a huge fracture."

Pietersen will win power struggle: Gower

London (PTI): Two former England captains David Gower and Alec Stewart have backed incumbent Kevin Pietersen in his power struggle with coach Peter Moores, saying the South Africa-born dashing batsman is an indispensable figure in the country's cricket.

Miffed at the exclusion of former captain Michael Vaughan for this month's West Indies tour, Pietersen has given the ultimatum to England and Wales Cricket Board to choose between him and Moores.

Gower believes Pietersen would come out on top if the power-brokers are forced to choose between the pair.

"It's a bit of a mess but I've got a feeling Kevin Pietersen will get his way," he told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"Hugh Morris (ECB managing director) has an interesting task on his hands to mediate between the two if he can. I think they are going to have to go with their captain because he is a mightily important figure in what happens this year and over the next few years. He is a fantastic player, and he has the chance to be a good captain. He is still learning that trade, as we know -- he's far from being a great captain yet. I think they are going to have to back their captain."

Stewart believes a fractious relationship could seriously damage the team and said Moores will have to find out a way to work with Pietersen.

"Pietersen is a strong individual who likes to lead from the front and I have no problem with this. Moores must strike a happy medium as to who runs things where and when," Stewart said

"It is vital that a healthy working relationship between these two is in place even if socially they don't mix -- and a united front is paramount so that there is no chance of a split within the camp."

No need to change our approach: Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen does not believe his batting colleagues were negative in their approach in the epic Chennai Test and insists the visitors need not change their game in the final Test against India either.

"In Chennai, we got into a good position to win the match and India eventually chased down a score which created a great history. I don't think we need to change much," Pietersen told reporters ahead of the second Test starting on Friday.

"In Chennai, we played fantastic cricket for three and half days. The fourth and fifth days were not our days and unfortunately we lost. But we played fantastic cricket there and I don't think there is any reason to change our approach," he explained.

Incidentally, England batting coach and former Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower was among those who believed England lost the momentum in Chennai because of their slow batting there. Pietersen, meanwhile, kept the cards close to his chest and decided not to announce the playing XI for the final match of the series.

"We have not decided the side, sorry. There are a few things we are looking into and a final decision would be taken only tomorrow," he said.

The England management is mulling replacing out-of-form Ian Bell with Owais Shah while seamer Stuart Broad is fit to play, at the cost of either Steve Harmison or James Anderson both of whom had an average outing in Chennai.

Pietersen said more than replacing off-colour players, he was looking into the whole picture. "It's pretty much full work and we are looking at the whole thing. There are guys who have come on this trip who are raring to go and wanting to play and it's just about making a decision on who the best team is to try and win a Test match and try and play positive cricket," he said.

Pietersen admitted Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma troubled them in Chennai with their grasp of reverse swing and felt England too needed to get it going if they are to win the Test here and level the series.

"I definitely think it's going to be crucial and so we would try to get some reverse swing here. Unfortunately, we didn't get much of it in Chennai, which nullified a few things in bits and pieces. The surface is brazen here and we are looking to get some reverse swing going," he said.

According to him, the defeat in Chennai has left England with the lone option of winning the match here and level the series, which they are quite capable of.

"It's simple now. We have to get hard here. In Chennai, we won 70 per cent of the Test. Though we lost the match, the boys can be proud of how they performed. After losing Stanford Super Series and then the 5-0 defeat in the ODI series (against India), to come so close before losing the match in Chennai was a brilliant show," he said.

Against a star-studded Indian batting order, job, however, would not be easy, admitted Pietersen.

"It's a pretty good batting lineup. If we get rid of Gautam (Gambhir), and then (Virender) Sehwag, you have Rahul Dravid and then freak of a bloke at number four (Sachin Tendulkar). It gets to number 5,6,7...

"I don't think the Sehwag-Gambhir pair as the biggest hurdle for us, there are quite a few. But of course Sehwag's wicket is crucial. He plays a different expansive game and it would be a tough task for our bowlers," he said.

Pietersen said he has sought tips from a few former captains and would like to put them to use whenever required. "It's going to be tough but I have got some advice from some of the former captains and you take them with you when going gets tough," he said.

Among others, Pietersen had a lengthy discussion with Mike Brearley in the flight from Chennai to Chandigarh.

Just cannot keep Sehwag down

Virender Sehwag is all smiles after inspiring India to an incredible win.
Mixed emotions: Even as Kevin Pietersen looks dejected.

NEW DELHI: He bats not to save, but to win matches. He makes stroke-play such a joyful vocation, with all the finesse that comes most effortlessly.

Purists were the first to question his elevation to the Test team. They argued he had little footwork, no patience and too many shots in his armoury.

But Virender Sehwag chose to make his presence felt with some astounding batting and changed the principles of opening the innings, leaving the pioneer of aggression at the top, Sanath Jayasuriya, far behind.

Not changed much

He insists he has not changed much from the time he took guard for the first time in a Test match. “I play the same cricket that I did 10 years ago. Today, I am batting the same way I was when I lost my Test place,” he said at the end of an innings that he confessed would always remain close to his heart.

Sehwag must excel when stroking making is an invitation to trouble. As indeed it was at the Chepauk when he carted the English attack in his customary style.

“I just played my natural game. I played six or seven cut shots, my favourite, because the ball was coming on nicely,” remembers Sehwag. The ‘cut’ has been his Achilles Heel.

That he set the tone for a wonderful victory is now documented for posterity.

As is his sensational innings, a fourth day classic on a difficult pitch. The ball did jump and turn but failed to deter Sehwag’s intentions. He was aggressive all through the innings and was obviously batting to a plan.

The new ball had to be hit and that is precisely what Sehwag did. He has never believed in this theory that an opener’s primary job is to wear off the shine of the ball.

He lets his bat to that job and it is a delight to watch the ball fly at an alarming pace off his willow. He makes the best of fielders and the meanest of bowlers look helpless.

He insists he has become patient. The opposition would disagree vehemently though. “I have become patient and am careful about my shot selection,” he says humbly; this from a man who knocks 83 off 68 balls with four sixes and 11 fours in a Test innings on the fourth evening of the match.

Range

Sehwag’s range of shots is no longer restricted to off side. He now explores the leg side with amazing disdain for the line and length of the ball.

The ‘corridor ball’ does not exist for this adventurous batsman; neither does the ‘perfume ball’ curtail his exuberance at the crease.

“I fear none,” he emphasizes. His Test average of 51.85 confirms his claims.

In this hour of glory, Sehwag pays glowing tribute to coach Gary Kirsten. “He is one of the best I have seen. He has supported me hugely and helped me raise my self-belief.

He helped me change my mindset. He told me he can’t teach me how to bat but can assure me my place in the side. He gave me space to shine and made sure that I did not feel insecure. Thanks Gary,” acknowledges Sehwag.

Kevin Pietersen plays through pain as England lose but win respect

England's captain, Kevin Pietersen, revealed that he played the first Test with a fractured rib as he struggled to come to terms with an extraordinary India victory inspired by one of the great innings of Sachin Tendulkar's celebrated career.

Tendulkar struck the winning runs to secure India's six-wicket victory and his 41st Test century as England, seemingly impregnable after setting a target of 387 at the Chidambaram Stadium, lost by six wickets with roughly an hour's daylight remaining on the final day.

Pietersen said England's decision to return to India in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks meant they could accept their defeat with pride.

"It's a bitter pill to swallow but we need to be really proud of the fact that we played Test match cricket over the past five days," he said. "The tragedy of Mumbai was not in the script and for them to come out and play Test cricket was special.

"Seventy per cent of the Test was ours. But who can write Tendulkar's scripts any better? He made a sensational hundred. [Virender] Sehwag started India's innings off but, if we had got Sachin out early, who knows what would have happened?"

Tendulkar dedicated his hundred to those who had suffered loss in the terrorist attack and called England's decision to fulfil the Test series "a terrific gesture".

Pietersen was injured before the final one-day international in Cuttack three weeks ago. He admitted to sleepless nights before the Chennai Test as he agonised over whether England should accept security advice that it was safe to return but until yesterday he repeatedly played down the extent of his rib injury.

He plans to play in the second Test, which begins in Mohali on Friday. "I have got a fractured rib," he said. "There are no dramas. I will deal with it. I don't like injections. I will just take painkillers."

He is determined to play in Mohali to hold together the spirit of an England squad which was badly jolted by India's successful run chase — the highest in Test history on the sub-continent.

Pietersen's admission that he had "sore ribs" was overshadowed after the Cuttack one-day international as Andrew Flintoff jarred his ankle, which has had four operations.