Anderson defends ex-England coach Moores after Pietersen’s criticism

SYDNEY - England fast bowler Jimmy Anderson has praised former coach Peter Moores, a day after batsman Kevin Pietersen claimed that the Three Lions’ would not have retained the Ashes with Moores still in charge.

Anderson has given credit to Moores for keeping faith in him on the path to success.

“It was Peter Moores, back in early 2008, who wanted me to lead the attack and who gave me more responsibility,” The Guardian quoted Anderson, as saying.

“We were in New Zealand, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison were dropped and me and Stuart [Broad] came in. He put a lot of faith in us and gave us a lot of responsibility and I think that boosted my confidence,” he added.

Pietersen had earlier said that the foundations of the team’s retention of the Ashes in Australia were laid by his messy departure as captain and in part by the sacking of Moores.

“I have never said this before. I got rid of the captaincy for the good of English cricket, and we would not be here today if I had not have done what I did then. There is no way in this world that we would have continued under that regime and have won the Ashes again in Australia after 24 years,” Pietersen had said. (ANI)