Former England captain Graham Gooch was sacked as the team’s batting coach on Thursday, becoming the first casualty of Peter Moores era. Gooch apparently was told by skipper Alastair Cook he favoured a change in team management. Gooch had mentored Cook right from his playing days at Essex before joining together again at the international level. Gooch began working as a consultant batting coach with England in November 2009, a role that became full-time in March 2012. A year later Gooch relinquished the limited overs coach role to focus on working with Test players. Gooch said he was incredibly proud to work as England batting coach since 2009. ‘I know I have given my best and I have tried to give it every day,’ the former opening batsman said.