LONDON - Alastair Cook bowed out on Wednesday as England captain admitting that the controversial firing of Kevin Pietersen was handled badly.
The man who led England a record-breaking 59 times chose his final press conference as skipper at Lord’s to talk of his regret at the way the maverick superstar was jettisoned in the wake of the 5-0 Ashes thrashing of 2013-14.
‘I do wish it had been done differently,’ said Cook, who is expected to be succeeded next week by Joe Root. ‘I was part of the group who made that decision and it was what we thought was best for English cricket.
‘But the fall-out was not very good for the game. It wasn’t great for it to be all over the front and back pages and social media.
‘Part of our responsibility is to get cricket in the newspapers for the right reasons and for six months or so it wasn’t. I think we all have regrets over the way it was handled, but when Andrew Strauss came on board and made the final decision (Pietersen) wasn’t coming back, it made it a little easier.’
It was apt that Cook’s farewell on Tuesday was an understated affair, in keeping with a man who has never been entirely comfortable in the spotlight.
There were no tears, as we saw with Michael Vaughan at Loughborough in 2008, and no spontaneous ovation from the press, as signalled the end of Strauss in a big room at Lord’s four years later.
This time there was just a quiet, slightly self-conscious, but typically dignified exit in a cramped room in the Tavern Stand for a captain who has experienced extreme highs and lows.
Cook reflected on them all on Tuesday, mostly with a smile, as he pondered a captaincy stint that saw two Ashes wins and triumphs in India and South Africa, but also the sacking of Pietersen that rocked English cricket to its core.
Throughout it all he has remained the same ordinary guy; one blessed with extraordinary mental strength that has made him one of England’s greatest batsmen and a captain highly respected by all he has led.
First there was his decision to go now after four and a half often tumultuous years in the aftermath of a 4-0 defeat in India, but with his last great ambition of leading England in Australia again tantalisingly in reach.
‘It was a tough decision but in one sense easier than I expected,’ said a relaxed Cook. ‘The hard bit was giving it away and telling myself it was time to go, because it is such a brilliant job, but it was easy because I felt I was done.
‘I’d been to the well a couple of times as England captain and I couldn’t go again. I’ve looked back a bit over the last couple of weeks knowing this was the end and I’m quite proud of what I’ve achieved.
‘It’s sad but it’s a job you need 100 per cent commitment to at all times and at the end of India, I felt I couldn’t do it any more. I might be able to give it 95 per cent but that’s not good enough. It’s sad but also exciting because it will be another phase of my career now.’
That new phase, he very much hopes, will be as a senior player in what remains an exciting England team, doing what he does best, adding to his extraordinary tally of more than 11,000 Test runs and 30 centuries. ‘I really hope I’m still here in four or five years because it would mean I’ve scored runs and England have done well,’ he said.
‘I am excited to go back to the ranks and play cricket with a slightly different pressure. I’ve gone back to Essex over the last five years as England captain and they haven’t kicked me out yet, so I’m sure I can do the same now.’
He will return to the ranks under Root, unless Strauss has a monumental surprise up his sleeve, and it was intriguing that Cook spoke with enthusiasm not just about his heir apparent but also three other key players. ‘Joe has been vice-captain for a couple of years so Straussy has clearly seen leadership potential in him,’ said Cook.
‘He’s got a very good cricket brain and is part of the newer generation. He’s also a bloody good cricketer who commands respect in the changing room because of that. He’d be an outstanding candidate but I also think Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow come into consideration, looking at the way they drive things.
‘I’m looking forward to seeing how the new team evolve and very much want to be part of it.’
Before that happens, there was a chance to reflect on a captaincy job that, in the main, was pretty well done. ‘The highlight was winning the Ashes in 2015 when nobody gave us a chance, and from a personal point of view it was the reception I got at Southampton against India in 2014,’ said Cook.
‘That was as tough as it had got for me and it was a very special moment that kept me in the job because it was clear the public wanted me to carry on.’ That show of support was necessary, of course, because of the furore that greeted the decision made by Cook, Andy Flower and Paul Downton to sack Pietersen, by then a fading, divisive presence.
Now Cook is pleased and proud he came through those dark times. ‘I’ve been true to myself along the way and I’ve made every decision thinking it was the right thing to do,’ he said.
‘For me it’s just been a privilege and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve loved every minute. It’s tested me and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. It’s time to move on now.’