PIERS MORGAN has finally apologised to England cricket legend Sir Alastair Cook for calling him a “weasel”.
The journalist had labelled the retired batter with the offensive term 38 times since the 2013/14 Ashes in Australia.
England were thumped 5-0 in the series and Kevin Pietersen was dropped from the side by a “unanimous decision” by the ECB.
The exciting maverick was exiled from the team and never picked again despite his previous exploits with the bat.
Former England captain Andrew Strauss blocked Pietersen’s return in 2015 – while the director of cricket – due to “massive trust issues”.
Morgan, 60, was left furious at the decision and hit out at the ECB and Strauss but mainly blamed Cook’s captaining at the time.
He claimed they “ruined” Pietersen’s career and a decade ago claimed “hell would freeze over” before he apologised.
Morgan continuously mocked Cook on social media and even claimed he “bored me to tears” and dubbed him “Captain Weasel”.
Cook, 40, retired from playing in 2018 as England‘s leading run scorer with 12,472 runs in 161 Test matches.
Joe Root surged past him in October 2024 and is currently on 13,543 runs, and is now only behind second Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) in all-time Test run-scorers.
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The broadcaster has now apologised to the legendary run scorer on an episode of Stick to Cricket.
Morgan even admitted to going “over the top” in his abuse towards him.
He said: “The real victim I think, was the England cricket fan who would have loved another five years out of Kevin Pietersen.
“I just felt the fact that he never played against after 33, still, to me feels like it should have been better handled.
“But, I have to admit I was very full on against you (Alastair) personally without knowing you.
“And when I look back at some of the things I tweeted about you – I know you’re not on social media – I did go over the top.
Cook was part of the decision to exile Kevin Pietersen from the England team[/caption]
Sir Alastair Cook’s key stats
Here is a look at the stats from Alastair Cook’s Test career
- Matches: 161
- Runs: 12,472
- Average: 45.35
- Centuries: 33
- Highest Score: 294 vs India, Edgbaston, 2011
- Balls Faced: 26,562
“So, I will take this opportunity. I’m sorry for the 38 weasel references.”
Morgan called Cook a “weasel” 38 times and even a “epulsive little weasel” in 2014 over his handling of Pietersen.
When asked about the comment at the time, he sarcastically he doubled down.
He said: “On further reflection, I’d like to apologise. To weasels.”
One of Morgan’s more cutting posts against Cook came after he retired in 2018.
Cook bowed out with a brilliant 147 – his 33rd century – in England’s clash against India at the Oval.
Yet Morgan opted to slam his style with the bat on social media and suggested Cook rarely scored “an important Test run”.
He wrote: “Farewell Alastair Cook.
Pietersen never played for England again after the 2013/14 Ashes down under[/caption]
Cook signed off as England captain with a century against India in 2018[/caption]
“I’ll be honest: I can’t forgive him for wrecking Pietersen’s England career.
“He bored me to tears as a batsman, has barely scored an important Test run for years & it’s weird he never sweats.
“But he gave his all for England & played many invaluable innings.”
Having now buried the hatchet with Cook, he did get a response about the dropping of Pietersen.
Cook has previously insisted that the exclusion of Pietersen was the most difficult part of his five-year reign as England captain.
He added: “I was part of the decision that KP never played again.
“Do I regret it? You make the decision because you think it is the right thing for the England cricket team at that time.
“And you think for what has gone on leading up to it while I went with Strauss on all that stuff.
“Obviously, as an England captain, you are a part and not overall responsible as there is loads of things.
“Right or wrong what I do know is it was handled badly from both sides.”
