Pietersen not on England radar: Moores
Coach says team and staff are focused on West Indies tour
PRIORITISING: Pietersen agreed a return to Surrey last week in a bid to enhance his chances of a recall, but coach Moores says that his entire focus is on the three-Test series in the Caribbean. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON:
Kevin Pietersen "isn't on the radar" for an England recall, coach Peter Moores told reporters on Thursday as his squad prepared to fly out to the West Indies.
Incoming England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman Colin Graves has suggested that Pietersen may yet be able to resurrect his England career, having been frozen out of the national set-up a year ago.
The South Africa-born batsman agreed a return to Surrey last week in a bid to enhance his chances of a recall, but Moores says that his entire focus is on the three-Test series in the Caribbean.
"For me, Pietersen’s not on this trip, so I don't need to focus on him at all. He isn’t on my radar," Moores told a media conference at the Gatwick Airport. "My focus is to support [captain] Alastair [Cook] as I always would and the 16 players on this tour.
"At the end of that summer [2014] we'd gone through a tough season, and started to play the sort of attacking cricket people like, and we like. That's our focus at the moment.”
Moores also expressed ‘frustration’ that speculation about Pietersen was overshadowing the fact that players such as Yorkshire batsman Adam Lyth were in line to make their Test debuts.
"It's not about me getting personal; it's about the focus on the England team," he said. "The frustration for me is that people whose dreams are being made by going on this tour aren't being mentioned. They are not getting any air time and it's frustrating because they’re good players.”
Skipper Cook echoed Moores' concerns. "I was with Lyth when he got his phone-call in Dubai, and it was such a refreshing thing to see," said Cook. "He was in tears talking to his mum, a gritty Yorkshireman.
"To be standing in the airport in his England suit for the first time, he'll remember this forever.”
Cook added, "We've got these 16 guys going to the West Indies who are desperate to turn around England cricket and that’s all that we’re focused on.”
Meanwhile, Moores also said that there was no ill-feeling between himself and Cook after the Essex batsman expressed disappointment over his omission from England's World Cup squad.
"Cook and I spoke a lot all the way through," said Moores. "He was disappointed not to be involved, but we've got to look forward now. There's a lot of noise and emotion around English cricket — that's understandable — but we've got 16 players here, to go to the West Indies to fight to win a Test series."
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Kevin Pietersen "isn't on the radar" for an England recall, coach Peter Moores told reporters on Thursday as his squad prepared to fly out to the West Indies.
Incoming England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman Colin Graves has suggested that Pietersen may yet be able to resurrect his England career, having been frozen out of the national set-up a year ago.
The South Africa-born batsman agreed a return to Surrey last week in a bid to enhance his chances of a recall, but Moores says that his entire focus is on the three-Test series in the Caribbean.
"For me, Pietersen’s not on this trip, so I don't need to focus on him at all. He isn’t on my radar," Moores told a media conference at the Gatwick Airport. "My focus is to support [captain] Alastair [Cook] as I always would and the 16 players on this tour.
"At the end of that summer [2014] we'd gone through a tough season, and started to play the sort of attacking cricket people like, and we like. That's our focus at the moment.”
Moores also expressed ‘frustration’ that speculation about Pietersen was overshadowing the fact that players such as Yorkshire batsman Adam Lyth were in line to make their Test debuts.
"It's not about me getting personal; it's about the focus on the England team," he said. "The frustration for me is that people whose dreams are being made by going on this tour aren't being mentioned. They are not getting any air time and it's frustrating because they’re good players.”
Skipper Cook echoed Moores' concerns. "I was with Lyth when he got his phone-call in Dubai, and it was such a refreshing thing to see," said Cook. "He was in tears talking to his mum, a gritty Yorkshireman.
"To be standing in the airport in his England suit for the first time, he'll remember this forever.”
Cook added, "We've got these 16 guys going to the West Indies who are desperate to turn around England cricket and that’s all that we’re focused on.”
Meanwhile, Moores also said that there was no ill-feeling between himself and Cook after the Essex batsman expressed disappointment over his omission from England's World Cup squad.
"Cook and I spoke a lot all the way through," said Moores. "He was disappointed not to be involved, but we've got to look forward now. There's a lot of noise and emotion around English cricket — that's understandable — but we've got 16 players here, to go to the West Indies to fight to win a Test series."
Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.