KP captaincy under threat

England's cricket bosses have not ruled out replacing both Peter Moores and Kevin Pietersen following their damaging public falling-out this week, writes David Lloyd.

Managing director Hugh Morris is not only talking to Moores and Pietersen this week but also seeking to establish from members of the team whether either man has the level support needed to lead England.

It has been widely assumed that if Morris comes to the conclusion Moores and Pietersen cannot work together then the coach will carry the can. But while that remains the likeliest outcome, Standard Sport understands the ECB could go for the clean-slate option and plump for a new leadership team.

Much will depend on what Morris discovers when he talks to players this week.

In many ways, finding an alternative to Pietersen would be a lot easier than replacing Moores. Andrew Strauss has twice been passed over as Test captain, with first Andrew Flintoff and then Pietersen picked ahead of him.

The problem with Strauss is that he cannot get into the one-day side, but England's imminent concern is a Test series in the Caribbean, which starts in less than a month.

If Moores departs, then the ECB are likely to make a temporary appointment, with Ashley Giles an obvious candidate.

South Africa will enter the final day of the Third Test against Australia in Sydney needing 314 more runs to pull off an improbable series whitewash.
Leading two-nil but without skipper Graeme Smith, who broke a finger in the first innings, South Africa were set a target of 376 from 116 overs. The tourists reached 62 for one at stumps on day four.