CRICKET - Cook wants united England

Paul Smith, Sportsbeat 

ALASTAIR Cook admits a united dressing room represents England's best chance of being successful.

The new Test captain was speaking after Kevin Pietersen completed a 'reintegration' process to return to the squad.

Pietersen hasn't played for his country since admitting sending "provocative" text messages to mates in the South Africa team during the Headingley Test in August, but has now been confirmed as being in the squad for the upcoming tour of India.

And Cook, speaking at the launch of the last ever ICC Champions Trophy which will be held in England and Wales next June, revealed the batsman had been in behind-closed-doors talks with ECB officials.

"We are all decent blokes in the camp, it was just important we got the process right," he said. "A lot has happened over the last two months. We can finally move on as an England side all together.

"Hatchets can be buried but it was important the process was done right and correctly.

"We all know good teams play their best sport - whether it's cricket, rugby or football - when everyone is united and that has been part of our strength over the last few years. That's why we have had good results. You need that to play well."

See the best 8 teams in one day international cricket take part in the ICC Champions Trophy in June 2013 - tickets for The Oval, Cardiff and Edgbaston are on sale on Nov 5 at icc-cricket.com (pre-registration open now).

(c) Sportsbeat 2012