ENGLAND captain Alastair Cook said reasons behind Kevin Pietersen’s axing from the side will be made public soon .

Speaking at Essex County Cricket Club’s media day at the Ford County Ground, the 29-year-old left hander said not being able to discuss the rationale behind Pietersen’s cutting from the squad in February was “frustrating”.

He continued to fend off questions about the decision made after the 5-0 whitewash against Australia.

But the opening batsman said it will not be long before more details are revealed.

“Everyone will say I'm sitting on the fence, but there are a number of reasons which will become clearer soon,” Cook said.

“You have to respect the decision and the position I am in at this precise moment in time.

"Everyone is going to keep asking that question until we give the answers, but at the moment we just can't so I'd love to talk about something slightly different.”

Before heading back into the England set-up with Sri Lanka and India touring in the summer, Cook is set to feature for Essex in their friendly against Cambridge University next week.

He is also free to feature for the Eagles first four County Championship matches and the opening Twenty20 game of the season.

With changes afoot with England following Pietersen’s axing along with the departures first choice spinner Graeme Swann and head coach Andy Flower, Cook believes it is actually an exciting time for the national side despite all the doom and gloom.

Cook said: “It's a time when we have to look forward. It's been an incredibly tough winter in terms of what's happened and the way we've played our cricket. We can't hide away from that.

“Just chatting to the lads who are back in England after that experience in Australia, a lot of those guys are desperate to be a part of it and it is going to be tough.

“I'm very privileged to be a part of that and hopefully we can make the difference.”