A long-running feud sparked by the Pietersen controversy
More than a decade after branding Alastair Cook a “weasel” over Kevin Pietersen’s axing from the England team, Piers Morgan has finally issued a public apology — and buried the hatchet with the former England captain. The long-running feud came to an end during Episode 16 of Stick to Cricket, a segment of The Overlap Cricket Show, where Morgan openly admitted he had gone too far in his criticism of Cook.
“As for you, Alastair Cook – what a repulsive little weasel you’ve turned out to be. Aside from the worst-ever Ashes tour captain.”
— Piers Morgan, on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in 2014
As for you Alastair Cook – what a repulsive little weasel you've turned out to be. Aside from worst ever Ashes tour captain. #KPSacked
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 4, 2014
Morgan’s anger toward Cook stemmed from the fallout of the 2013–14 Ashes series, which resulted in the end of Pietersen’s international career. Morgan had long held Cook responsible, believing he played a role in Pietersen’s removal.
Morgan explains his views on The Overlap Cricket Show
Speaking on The Overlap Cricket Show, Morgan explained the foundation of his criticism:
“Me and Alastair fell out without ever meeting because I still feel that the whole thing was just really badly handled with Kevin Pietersen. I loved watching Kevin Pietersen bat. He had been to me the greatest post-war batsman we produced, certainly the most entertaining.”
He continued, defending Pietersen’s form and fitness at the time:
“He was fit as a fiddle; he had been the top scorer in that series, and yet he became the sacrificial lamb who never played for England again. The real victim was the England cricket fan who would have loved to have had another five years with Kevin Pietersen. I just felt the fact he never played again after 33 still to me feels like that should have been better handled.”
An overdue apology after years of criticism
Morgan also reflected on how personal and excessive his attacks on Cook became:
“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, but I did go over the top. So, I will take this opportunity. I’m sorry for the 38 weasel references.”
🚨 Stick to Cricket @piersmorgan 🚨
👀 Beef With Sir Alastair Cook
🇺🇸 Being Friends With Trump
❤️ Admiration For Ronaldo
🏏 Why He Loves Cricket!Watch now on YouTube or listen on all major podcast platforms! pic.twitter.com/4osmcsXb9H
— Stick to Cricket (@StickToCricket) October 7, 2025
The apology marks a surprising turn for Morgan, who once famously declared that “hell would freeze over” before he apologized to Cook or Andrew Strauss. Cook, who captained England for five more years after Pietersen’s exit, scored over 12,000 Test runs and 33 centuries before retiring from international cricket in 2018.
A public reconciliation that closes a chapter
The public reconciliation ends one of the more high-profile grudges in recent English cricket history — one rooted in a turbulent chapter for the national team but now seemingly closed with a handshake and an overdue mea culpa.
