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Alastair Cook was ready to walk away from international cricket if Kevin Pietersen had been offered a way back to the England fold.

And Mirror Sport understands that new director of cricket Andrew Strauss has prevented a full-scale revolt at the ECB following his decision to leave the controversial batsman in the international wilderness.

From Cook at the top to everyday ECB employees below, the strength of feeling against Pietersen at cricket HQ was enough to convince Strauss and chief executive Tom Harrison that a return was impossible, regardless of how many runs he scored.

Strauss took full responsibility for the decision on Tuesday, but behind the scenes Cook represented the feelings of several players when he made it plain he was ready to give up his England shirt if Pietersen was brought back.

Kevin Pietersen's career in pictures:

Cook has constantly referred the decision regarding Pietersen to the top brass above him, but after an apparent softening towards the Surrey batsman in recent weeks, he delivered the ‘us or him’ ultimatum, and left Strauss and Harrison with a clear choice to make.

But it is the revelation that other members of administrative staff - those who work in the offices - also felt that way which will shed more light on the decision.

A source close to the ECB said: “There are people who would absolutely have walked away rather than deal with Kevin again.

"He has made life incredibly difficult for a large number of people over the years and the idea that he might be back horrified them.”

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Cook was savaged in Pietersen’s autobiography.

The pair fell out irreparably in Australia as the Ashes were lost 5-0 and Cook stood squarely behind the initial decision by Paul Downton to send Pietersen into exile.

His latest intervention may not have altered Strauss’ viewpoint on Pietersen, but it will certainly have been a factor in the decision that the ECB hope will allow the England team to move on and build for the future.

Pietersen had been expected to fly to India on Friday and hook up with the Hyderabad Sunrisers for the final stages of the IPL season, but is now set to miss out because of an Achilles injury.