England batting coach Graham Gooch says they can cope without Kevin Pietersen in limited-overs cricket.
Batting coach Graham Gooch had the luxury on day one in the third Investec Test against West Indies of extra time to fine-tune his charges' techniques, should he wish.
After the washout was finally confirmed at teatime at Edgbaston, Gooch also found himself pondering the make-up of the one-day international and Twenty20 squads to face these same opponents and due to be announced at the conclusion of this final Test.
One name which will not be read out is Pietersen's, following his unexpected decision last week to quit ODIs and - because of a clause in his employment contract - T20s too.
Pietersen's welter of more than 4,000 one-day international runs means his restriction to Test cricket only is an obvious loss to his adopted country.
But Gooch appears sanguine about his 50 and 20-over absence, convinced there are other developing talents able to fill Pietersen's boots. "Life moves on - one door closes, another one opens," he said.
"You have got to look at it from a team point of view as an opportunity for someone else to make his mark, to represent his country and to win games for his country.
"I would personally wish Kevin all the best - obviously he's still going to play Test cricket - in whatever else he does.
"But that chapter of his career is finished now, and we have to look forward."
Pietersen, 32 later this month, called time on his 'World Cup' career, on the back of two match-winning centuries - having been belatedly moved up to open the innings.
Gooch added: "I look at it as an opportunity for someone else, for a young player, to grab that chance. You've got to look forward.
"I'd like to think we would find someone who can do the job, absolutely.
"I was always in favour of Kevin Pietersen opening the batting, because I am in favour of putting your best players in first in one-day cricket and Twenty20 cricket.
"Get your best players at the top of the order and give them all the overs to make an impact."
A host of names spring to mind as possible top or middle-order batsmen to face the Windies, who are expected to push England much harder in the shorter formats than they have in a Test series already wrapped up by the hosts after victories at Lord's and Trent Bridge.
Before Darren Sammy's men can retrain their sights, though, they must try to avoid a whitewash here - possibly without the sterling services of their most reliable batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
The limpet left-hander has kept England at bay longer than most this summer, but today went to hospital for a scan on his sore side.
The Windies remain optimistic Chanderpaul may yet be fit to take part, though, a team spokesman saying: "A day off gives him a chance to see how well he goes."
