England begin a new era today under Andrew Strauss in the aftermath of captain Kevin Pietersen's resignation and the sacking of coach Peter Moores.

Strauss, who leads England's tour to the Caribbean in just under a fortnight, is to be consulted with urgency by the England hierarchy with regard to the one-day captaincy.

No timescale was put upon his new tenure as Test captain - although England and Wales Cricket Board sources were hinting at it being a permanent appointment last night - shortly after it was confirmed Pietersen had stepped down.

It is not inconceivable that Strauss will be asked to front the one-day side as well, although he has not been in England's plans since the 2007 World Cup.

Another pressing matter is the coaching set-up for the West Indies trip and the backroom staff will be quizzed in the next 24 hours in a bid to form a temporary structure for the 10-week tour.
It is hoped a new coach will be appointed before the start of the English summer.

The public fall-out between Pietersen and Moores made a fresh start necessary and although the former officially stepped down early yesterday evening, it is understood an emergency board meeting on Tuesday night had already decided to start the Ashes year of 2009 with a clean slate.

Hugh Morris, England cricket managing director, confirmed Strauss' return to the leadership role for the four-Test series against West Indies as he read a brief statement at the Brit Oval.

Prior to the saga relocating south of the Thames from Lord's, the ECB had remained silent throughout a day of speculation about the futures of Pietersen and Moores following the breakdown of their working relationship.

Reports at 9am suggested 28-year-old Pietersen had already tendered his resignation - he later denied it in his own statement - were met with shrugs in the offices at Lord's, as were similar suggestions Moores had quit one hour later.

From an England team perspective, however, all that matters is Pietersen's reign has been annulled after just five months.

He will return to the ranks after just three Tests in charge - his own statement confirming a desire to continue representing England.

The ECB statement read: "Kevin recognised that in the present situation it was impossible to restore the dressing room unity, which is vital, if England are to win the forthcoming tour to the Caribbean, the ICC global events or regain the Ashes in the npower Ashes Test series."

Morris added: "I have an extremely high respect and regard for Kevin Pietersen but this has become an impossible situation given the irretrievable breakdown of the relationship between captain and coach."

Pietersen first aired concern over Moores' running of the England team with Morris on the eve of the Mohali Test in India last month but his dissatisfaction became public on New Year's Eve, hours after former captain Michael Vaughan was left out of the touring party for the Caribbean - Pietersen had wanted his recall.

In the week that followed Pietersen revealed the situation was 'not healthy' in his Sunday newspaper column and informed the ECB he would not embark on tour on January 21 under the management structure in place.

With Pietersen on holiday in South Africa, it was left to Morris to meet with Moores, his former England schoolboy colleague, in person, which only emphasised the irreparable damage at the summit of English cricket.

The unholy mess also led Morris to privately consult senior players on the situation - although some clearly retained doubts over the way the team was functioning 20 months into Moores' tenure it appears not enough were firmly behind the captain either.

Moores, who the board determined 'should relinquish his role as England team director', was unavailable for comment and continues to keep his own counsel.

That is perhaps due to the fact his rolling annual contract guarantees a healthy pay-off - estimated to be around £250,000 - upon dismissal.