Video: Pietersen resigns | Video: Pietersen's press conference

Strauss asked to pick up the pieces | England's flawed genius | Atherton: Strauss must heal England's rifts | CMJ: England's captain-coach relationship vital | Pietersen: gamble that failed when going got tough | Atherton: Ashes now depends on Pietersen's reaction | County executives back Moores to return | Pietersen is oblivious as cricket world collapses around him

Aug 4, 2008 Kevin Pietersen agrees to succeed Michael Vaughan, his friend, as England captain but not before an hour of talks with Peter Moores, the head coach, in Northampton - a rare case, perhaps, of the pair meeting halfway. Geoff Miller, the national selector, declares that the choice of Pietersen was a simple decision. “Kevin is a world-class player who will command the respect of the dressing-room,” Miller says.

Aug 6 Moores denies early reports of a rift with Pietersen. “He will be his own man and that is going to be really important,” he says.

Captain-coach relationship is vital

The incompatibility that led to yesterday's dramatic events has echoes throughout the history of the game

• Kevin Pietersen: celebrity player is god who moves in a mysterious way

• Like Buster Keaton, Kevin Pietersen is oblivious as cricket world collapses around him

BACKGROUND

• Strauss offers a safe pair of hands

• County chiefs tip Moores to return

• Pietersen and Moores disunited

Multimedia

• Video: Pietersen returns to England

• Video: Pietersen's press conference

Ashes bid in chaos as big gamble fails

Six months before the start of the critical series, and the England team has lost both its captain and its coach, says Michael Atherton

• Like Buster Keaton, Kevin Pietersen is oblivious as cricket world collapses around him

• Kevin Pietersen: celebrity player is god who moves in a mysterious way

• ECB member clears Kevin Pietersen of going public over coaching row

BACKGROUND

• Ford puts his name in the frame

• Pietersen and Moores need to eat humble pie

• The rise and fall of Peter Moores

Times Archive, 1974: Boycott walks out

To an uncommon degree, Boycott is a man driven by personal ambition. This being so he finds it more difficult than most to accept a subordinate position

• Times Archive: Sport

Aug 11 Pietersen leads England to victory in the “dead” fourth npower Test against South Africa at the Brit Oval, having cracked a hundred himself along the way. He starts to talk up prospects for the Ashes in 2009.

Sept 3 The dream start continues with a 4-0 win over South Africa in the NatWest Series.

Oct 31 Lalit Modi, the Indian Premier League commissioner, says that Pietersen has committed to the tournament in 2009 even though Moores and the ECB are still to agree a window for contracted players.

Nov 1 England lose the Stanford 20/20 for 20 in Antigua by ten wickets. Pietersen says that the squad was distracted by “nonsense” off the field.

Nov 26 England go 5-0 down in the one-day series in India. Sixth and seventh games are cancelled after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and the squad returns home. After much anguish it returns for two relocated Test matches and Pietersen is hailed for his role in the decision.

Dec 15 India successfully chase 387 to win the first Test in Madras (Chennai). Pietersen's tactics are criticised, but he is understood to be unhappy at a lack of support and ideas from Moores on the final day.

Dec 29 Against Pietersen's wishes, Vaughan is not selected for the West Indies tour, with England due to fly out on January 21.

Dec 31 A text message from a source thought to be close to Vaughan kicks off a week of frenzied speculation. Pietersen is reported to be so angry at Vaughan's omission that he is demanding the removal of Moores.

Jan 1 Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, delegates Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, to sort out differences between Pietersen and Moores.

Jan 2 Moores does not comment as consensus builds among the talking heads that Pietersen is more likely to win any battle for power.

Jan 4 Pietersen says: “Obviously this situation is not healthy. We have to make sure it is settled as soon as possible and certainly before we fly off to the West Indies.”

Jan 5 Stephen Harmison, the first player from the ranks to put his name to comments, calls for unity and a swift resolution before the tour to the Caribbean.

Jan 6 The 12-man ECB board holds an emergency meeting.

Jan 7 Pietersen resigns and Moores is dismissed by the ECB.