Cook made his maiden Test century against India in March 2006

Newly appointed England Test captain Alastair Cook has announced that he has already warned his players about their behaviour ahead of the Test series against India, and added that there would be no more Kevin Pietersen-like controversies as long as he was captain.

Cook revealed that the Pietersen saga has already left a permanent stain on the good name of England cricket, and also noted he would do everything to protect the remaining dignity that it had left.

Pietersen was included back into the national team after a successful reintegration process, and is expected to play a huge role throughout the series due to his experience of the conditions in India.

The Daily Express quoted Cook as saying: “Clearly, lessons from what has happened over the last two months need to be learned. You don’t want the situations that have arisen because it damages English cricket and it damages the team, we know that and we have got to give our best as a side, as players and as a management, so as not to let it happen again.”

Cook also explained that he felt absolutely honoured to be leading his country in India, a place where England have only won one Test match since 1985.

“I don’t know what is going to happen over the next 18 months or the next few years or however long I am lucky enough to be England captain, you don’t know what is around the corner, but throughout my career I think I have managed to deal with every situation quite well – whatever has been thrown at me. Hopefully I can take that into my captaincy as well,” Cook added.