Caddick approves of KP exit

Pietersen stepped down on Wednesday while coach Peter Moores was sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board as their high-profile falling out came to a head. It has been reported that Pietersen's position became untenable after he demanded the removal of Moores, a request the ECB baulked at.

Even though Moores was also relieved of his duties, Caddick is pleased Pietersen has not been allowed to dictate terms and said: "It is difficult to comment because it is all hearsay, you are just assuming that himself and Moores didn't get on too well and reading between the lines of all the speculation. But I think it (Pietersen's resignation) is probably the best thing that has happened in English cricket at the moment."

He added: "I don't think anyone should be able to dictate to the ECB - but the ECB probably saw this was going to happen at some stage because of the nature of the player.

"You have got to have respect for your coach, that is the end of the story. You are always going to have loggerheads between captains and coaches but they should be kept in close quarters and not put in the public domain."

Caddick admits he has sympathy for Moores and says the whole saga has reflected badly on Pietersen.

He said: "I feel sorry for Peter Moores. He had success at Sussex and the Academy but had a hard act to follow in Duncan Fletcher and at the end of the day will not be remembered as a great coach, but the controversial one who almost came to fisticuffs with Pietersen.

"I haven't been in an England dressing room for years, so it is all on hearsay but the feelings were he didn't have the respect of senior players.

"It is difficult if you are a player and haven't got support or respect but as a coach that has got to be even worse because every point you try to get across to the players is probably falling on deaf ears.

"But it is interesting that if Pietersen has come out with this ultimatum, 'Moores or me', that the players have reportedly backed Peter Moores. That says another thing about the England dressing room and questions Pietersen's commitment to the cause."