Cook denies ultimatum over KP selection

England captain Alastair Cook says he made no ultimatum about Kevin Pietersen's presence in his Test team this summer.

On the eve of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, Cook refuted some media reports by insisting he had no say on the decision to continue Pietersen's England exile.

He says it was England and Wales Cricket Board's director Andrew Strauss and chief executive Tom Harrison who decided there was no way back in the foreseeable future for Pietersen.

Pietersen was sacked 15 months ago after England's whitewash Ashes defeat in Australia, and subsequently published an autobiography which contained vitriolic criticism of Cook, among others.

But Cook insisted he did not tell Strauss he would resign from his post if Pietersen was selected.

"There was no ultimatum, I can deny that," Cook said. "There is nothing we can do about it as players. The decision has been made ahead of us, by Andrew Strauss and Tom Harrison.

"I do agree with the decision, yes."

Cook became frustrated at a string of Pietersen-themed questions at a pre-match press conference alongside caretaker coach Paul Farbrace.

"We have to really focus on what is important to us now – and for me, that is leading the players out at Lord's trying to win a Test series."

Cook knows he cannot afford to be distracted at a time when his own future as captain is under a cloud and he warns it will not be easy against opponents who lost 2-0 on their last trip here but have improved significantly since.

"It was a great series for us, but obviously over the last two years, they have made huge strides under Brendon McCullum," he said.

"They are a very, very dangerous side. We are aware of that."

For the much-improved Black Caps, the series presents an opportunity for a first Test win on English soil this century.

With the likes of McCullum, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and fast-bowling pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult, the New Zealanders can point to a host of world-class players, upon whose talents they have enjoyed a stunning renaissance over the past two-and-a-half years.

When McCullum took over as captain in December 2012, New Zealand were eighth and ninth in the Test and ODI rankings respectively but now lie third in both.

Despite leading the side to rare Test wins in Australia and Sri Lanka in 2012, Taylor was replaced as captain by McCullum amid plenty of ill-feeling, with incoming coach Mike Hesson widely viewed as having bungled the move.

Indeed, New Zealand Cricket felt compelled to issue a public apology to Taylor for how the saga played out and a host of former Black Caps internationals called for the head of the coach and board members.

Yet the governing body stood behind Hesson, a man who has never played a first-class match let alone an international one.

Taylor, recognised as New Zealand's best batsman, sat out the tour to South Africa in January 2013 and the visitors were immediately humbled in the first of two Tests.

After winning the toss in Cape Town, they were skittled for 45, the equal 12th-lowest Test score of all time and the lowest in almost 40 years. Unsurprisingly, they crashed to innings defeats in both matches.

Shoots of a recovery sprouted in a one-day series victory over the Proteas, before England were fortunate to escape with a 0-0 draw in their three-Test series with Taylor back in New Zealand's ranks.

There have been lows since. They lost the return series to England in the summer of 2013 and suffered a surprise 3-0 ODI humbling against Bangladesh later that year, but the Hesson-McCullum partnership has been by and large tremendously successful, with 2014 their most successful year in Test cricket ever and a maiden World Cup final appearance only two months ago.

Despite England’s chaotic build-up, McCullum was quick to preach caution ahead of the opening Test, for which he and other New Zealand players have had a severely limited build-up owing to Indian Premier League commitments.

“They are obviously going through some challenges – we've been there as well and understand what every team has to go through – but they are still stacked full of world-class players,” he said.

“In their own conditions, they will be a tough proposition, and we are by no means thinking we have got them.

“We know we'll have to play extremely good cricket.”

McCullum led the New Zealand side that lost the 2013 two-Test series in England 2-0, but the skipper believes his team is a vastly different proposition this time around, having developed a culture and playing style that suits their strengths.

“For so long we probably weren't comfortable with our own style and unsure of our own style,” he added.

“Naturally you try to copy those that are doing well.

“We probably tried to copy the Australian team of 10 years ago – and while you can have some success, it probably doesn't last too long if it isn't authentic to your style.

“We had to strip back our team and how we play our game and align it more with how New Zealanders like to live their lives.

“We are small country and that brings challenges but also benefits, and one of those is you can be a bit more aggressive.

“We aren't the finished product, but we are getting better … this is the best team I've been a part of.”