With the tension between the two seemingly unresolved, following England's victory over Australia in the 4th Ashes Test at Melbourne which saw England retain the Ashes for the first time since the 1986-87 Ashes, Pietersen claimed that without the removal of Moores, England would not have been in a position to beat Australia, claiming the change in regime brought about a better working climate within the squad. Pietersen went on to say: "You know what - I have never said this before - I lost the captaincy, I got rid of the captaincy for the good of English cricket, and we would not be here today if I had not done what I did then."