CRICKET: New England captain Andrew Strauss began his permanent term of office with the backing of fallen predecessor Kevin Pietersen.
Strauss, the man the England and Wales Cricket Board hope can reunite the dressing room following the fiasco of the last week, will discuss the one-day situation with the selectors, having been given the Test captaincy in the long-term.
Strauss, 31, spoke confidently of Pietersen's pledged support at his Lord's unveiling and will now put forward his case for a return to limited-overs action as leader, on a day which could also result in the announcement of an interim coach for the imminent tour of the Caribbean.
Pietersen returned to Heathrow on Thursday morning and headed into a maelstrom of criticism, prompting him to issue a statement vowing silence during a time of reflection with family and friends - he is not expected to respond to the week's events until his Sunday newspaper column.
Having gained 28-year-old Pietersen's alliance, Strauss will now turn attention to mending dressing room relationships as a matter of urgency after Pietersen's relationship breakdown with coach Peter Moores - sacked on Wednesday - exposed disharmony within the England set-up.
"You are not going to walk into that dressing room and everything be hunky dory," warned Strauss.
"But if you look at it from a point of view that this England team has got to go out and perform well - and we all have a duty to ensure that - then I am sure the players will come together.
"All the players need to get into a room together at some stage, for all sorts of reasons: for me to be able to lay down what I believe is the way forward, for the management team to be able to have their view on things and for people to be clear in their minds what we are going to be about as an England team."
Strauss, who previously led England during the four-Test series against Pakistan in 2006 as a fill-in for the injured Michael Vaughan, contacted Pietersen after being offered the position.
"I have spoken to Kevin a couple of times already," Strauss confirmed.
"It's been a very tough situation, he has some stuff to deal with at the moment, and I fully believe everything he did as the England captain he did because he thought it was the best thing for the England cricket team.
"I know him well, he's a good mate of mine, and he has said he will support me. I truly believe he will do.
"Clearly it is a tough situation for him and he will have his own side of the story.
"I have got no problems with him as a player and it is fantastic we have such an incredible world-class player in our side.
"It is important we get the best out of him and I believe I can work with him very closely.
"KP is a very strong-willed person and that was one of his great strengths as England captain.
"He had a vision of where he thought English cricket needed to go, took it upon himself to deliver that and wasn't worried about upsetting a few people along the way.
"In one way that is a positive trait to have, in another it is going to cause confrontation at times."
Ultimately, it has left England seeking a new coach after Moores' position became untenable.
Strauss appeared regretful regarding Moores' exit, reflecting upon the 'effort, enthusiasm and determination' shown during the 20-month tenure and the integrity subsequently to the rift becoming public on New Year's Eve.
"Towards the back end of the India tour, there were signs that Kevin and Peter weren't getting on as well as they possibly could," reflected Strauss.
"But there was a lot on our minds apart from the dressing room situation and there certainly weren't signs that their relationship was as strained as it seems it had been.
"But we must now look forward; playing and winning cricket matches, that is our primary concern, and I am sure that is going to unite us."
Strauss has not played limited-overs cricket for England since the 2007 World Cup but admitted a return in the shorter formats was 'a little bit in flux at the moment'.
Strauss added: "We need to get back to what is actually best for the England cricket team, how we are going to perform as well as we can as often as we can."
For now that will come under his remit and possibly that of Andy Flower, who is tipped to become temporary coach.
-PA