Kevin Pietersen, the England captain, and head coach Peter Moores have both resigned, according to reports, after one of the most bizarre weeks in English cricket.

Andrew Strauss is standing by for the third time in his career to lead England on a full-time basis after Pietersen left his role only five months after his appointment.

Moores is also thought to have left his position, with his assistant Andy Flower likely to be offered the role on an interim basis for England's tour of the West Indies.

South African-born Pietersen had questioned Moores' ability as a top international coach in a dispute that became public.

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Bring in Strauss, says Stewart

Former England players give their reaction to the rumours that Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores have both resigned

• Mike Atherton: Ashes series now depends on Kevin Pietersen's reaction

• The highs and lows of Kevin Pietersen's career

• Kevin Pietersen's rift with Peter Moores threatens England

BACKGROUND

• Ford puts his name in the frame

• Pietersen and Moores need to eat humble pie

• Harmison tells Moores and Pietersen to make up

Related Links

• I knew it would end in tears, says Mike Atherton

• Ford puts his name in the frame

• Pietersen and Moores need to eat humble pie

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• Do England's Ashes hopes lie in ruin?

Officials had been keen to have the disagreement between the duo resolved before the England squad travelled to the Caribbean on January 21 for their four-Test tour of the West Indies.

Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, delivered his assessment to an emergency meeting of the ECB board last night having taken soundings from Moores' coaching staff as well as senior players.

Pietersen, who said on Sunday that differences needed to be settled before the squad departed for the Caribbean, is due to return from his holiday in Africa tomorrow.

The pair have not always seen eye to eye, with reasons for the dispute ranging from a clash of personalities to Pietersen's lack of respect for Moores's tactical credentials, technical know-how and playing career, to the captain's dissatisfaction with Michael Vaughan's omission from the tour to the West Indies.

The unhappy result of this power struggle is a huge blow for English cricket in Ashes year. Stephen Harmison this week had urged both parties to settle their differences to give the team their best chance of wresting the urn back from Down Under after the humiliating thrashing of 2006-07.

Pietersen was appointed last year after Vaughan resigned, England having already lost a series to South Africa. The batsman led the team to a victory in the final Test of that series but England lost the recent two-Test series in India 1-0 and there was criticism that, despite his batting skills, he was tactically naive as a captain.

Before leaving for his two-week vacation, Pietersen told Moores that he wanted Vaughan recalled to the squad for the West Indies tour even though the Yorkshire batsman has been out of form and has hardly played for the past four months.

Vaughan was left out of the squad despite Pietersen’s request and, since then, reports of his disputes with Moores have dominated headlines and news reports.

Strauss was the alternative candidate to Andrew Flintoff to lead England in Australia in 2006-07 and again when Pietersen succeeded Vaughan last August. His moment may have come as England captain and many will feel it is not before time.

Pietersen may have overplayed his hand and be disillusioned by the lack of support he has been given, but at least by jumping before he was pushed he can claim to have saved some face.

Mike Atherton, writing at the time of Pietersen's appointment as captain, said the ECB's decision was their biggest gamble ever and that his relationship with Moores would determine the success of his tenure.

"It is no secret that Pietersen has not seen eye to eye with Moores of late and so these differences will have to be settled quickly and irrevocably," the Chief Cricket Correspondent of The Times wrote, before adding, "I hope I'm wrong, but I have a horrible feeling that this is going to end in tears."