England captain Alastair Cook has denied that he issued an ultimatum to the ECB over the potential return of Kevin Pietersen.

Pietersen was told last week that he would not be considered for a recall by England this summer despite returning to county cricket and scoring a career-best 355 not out for Surrey against Leicestershire.

Subsequent reports emerged suggesting that Cook, who is known to have a strained relationship with Pietersen, threatened to walk out on the team if the South African-born batsman were reinstated.

However, Cook has denied those rumours, insisting that the decision was made by new ECB director of cricket Andrew Strauss and chief executive Tom Harrison.

"There was no ultimatum. I can deny that. There is nothing we can do about it as players. The decision has been made ahead of us, by Andrew Strauss and Tom Harrison," he told reporters.

"It wasn't and isn't my decision. I trust those that made the decision. I have to let management manage."

England are currently preparing for a two-Test series against New Zealand that starts on Thursday, before The Ashes begins in July.