Gooch removed as England's batting coach

England's Kevin Pietersen (R) takes a drink as batting coach Graham Gooch talks to him during a training session before England's first match in the cricket world cup against the Netherlands at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, India February 21, 2011. REUTERS/Philip Brown

LONDON (Reuters) - Graham Gooch has been sacked as England's batting coach with immediate effect, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Thursday, as the fallout from the Ashes drubbing continued.

The former England captain joined the team as a consultant batting coach in late 2009 before taking up a fulltime role in early 2012.