LONDON: Graham Gooch has quit as batting coach of the England cricket team, ending his almost five-year tenure and following the departure of head coach Andy Flower in the wake of the Ashes series defeat in Australia earlier this year.
The England Cricket Board released a statement Thursday confirming Gooch's resignation.
The former test batsman says he decided to stand down after discussions with England captain Alastair Cook.
Gooch says Cook "informed me that he was in favor of change -- although this was sad news, I respect his, and new coach Peter Moores, right to implement this change of direction."