Alastair Cook, the England opening batsman, has dismissed the book written by former coach Duncan Fletcher, saying he could not care less about its contents.

Fletcher, who was succeeded by Peter Moores in May, claimed in ‘Behind the Shades’, that Andrew Flintoff had once been too drunk to take part in a fielding session during last winter’s disastrous tour of Australia.

The then-skipper went on to embark on another alcohol-fuelled escapade during the World Cup in the Caribbean – which has become from as the infamous Fredalo affair – and led to Fletcher saying that he felt let down by the all-rounder.

Cook, however, insisted the only headlines he wanted to read about Flintoff were ones announcing his comeback from the ankle injury that has forced him to miss the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

“I haven’t read it [Fletcher’s autobiography] but obviously I have heard about it,” Cook said. “To be honest, I’m really not that interested in Duncan Fletcher’s book. It is just a book isn’t it? We are not bothered about what people are writing.

“What is in the book is in the past and we have moved on. Everyone is entitled to their opinions but personally I am not bothered what he has written now because we are under Peter Moores.

“It doesn’t affect the squad as a whole and we are more worried about how we are going to play against Sri Lanka in two weeks’ time.”

Of the Australian drinking allegations, he added: “I wasn’t there at the time because I wasn’t in that one-day series so it is hard for me to comment when I don’t know the facts.

“All I know is when I was playing under Freddie for England, he was my leader. He gave everything for England and I just wish him successful rehab on that ankle.

“It’s his third time, which must be tough, but we hope he gets back as soon as possible because a fully-fit, firing Freddie Flintoff is what we need for English cricket.”

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