Piers Morgan has publicly apologized to Alastair Cook after criticizing him as a ‘weasel’ 11 years ago. Morgan, known for his critical stance towards the former England cricket captain, particularly blamed Cook for Kevin Pietersen’s removal from the national team in 2013.
Initially adamant about not apologizing, Morgan had a change of heart after a recent meeting with Cook on The Overlap and Betfair’s Stick to Cricket show. Morgan admitted that his anger stemmed from his desire to see more of Pietersen’s exceptional play on the field.
Expressing regret for his past remarks, Morgan acknowledged his excessive criticisms of Cook, whom he had never met personally. He expressed sorrow for his numerous negative comments directed at Cook, emphasizing his passion for Pietersen’s talent and feeling that the situation could have been managed better.
Reflecting on the incident, Morgan offered a formal apology, stating, “So, I will take this opportunity. I’m sorry for the 38 weasel references.” Cook, unlike Pietersen, continued his cricket career for an additional five years, achieving remarkable milestones with 12,472 test runs and 33 centuries.
Cook previously described the fallout from Pietersen’s departure as the most challenging period of his career. The reconciliation between Morgan and Cook signifies a positive step towards resolving past conflicts in the cricketing world.