England all-rounder Ben Stokes retains on-field focus in aftermath of Kevin Pietersen book

England all-rounder Ben Stokes believes there has been too much focus on Kevin Pietersen's autobiography and not enough on the hectic international schedule ahead.

Pietersen's book was released in October and his criticism of his former coaches and team-mates alike sparked a furore in the cricketing world - but Stokes insists the English game has far more pressing matters to deal with and he is hopeful the period of controversy is over.

He told Sky Sports News HQ: "One major thing that I reckon is that it's taken the eye off the cricket side of things, it's been focused on the book rather than the amount of stuff we've got coming up.

"We've got a World Cup coming up after the new year and we've got a massive tour coming up to Sri Lanka.

"We've been massively focused on what we've got coming up in the next six months and I think the reports can suggest that everything has been based around the book rather than the cricket."

It's taken the eye off the cricket side of things, it's been focused on the book rather than the amount of stuff we've got coming up.

Pietersen was discarded by England at the start of the year following the disastrous Ashes series. He went on to claim that factional conflicts had plagued his time in the dressing room but Stokes, who was making his debut on the tour, refused to be drawn on the atmosphere between the players.

The 23-year-old said: "I didn't have any part in all these things that went on behind closed doors.

"All the meetings and everything like that, I still don't know if they actually happened or not so I don't really think I could comment on anything like that.

"At the moment it's a really strong dressing room, we've got a lot of new faces in it and I think it can only bode well for England in the future."