Pietersen takes swipe at 'big cheese' Prior
LONDONFeb 28, 2014 Kevin Pietersen lashed out at Matt Prior on Friday
as the controversial batsman labelled his former England team-mate a
'big cheese'. Pietersen, who has been axed by England after a turbulent
Ashes tour, took his cheeky swipe in response to Prior's suggestion the
England dressing room would be a better place without their flamboyant
star.
Prior had already been accused of having "stabbed (Pietersen) in the
back" during the Ashes by journalist Piers Morgan, a friend of the South
Africa-born batsman.
At the time, Sussex wicketkeeper Prior dismissed Morgan's take on
events, but on Thursday he was reported to have welcomed news that
Pietersen would no longer be playing international cricket. The
tit-for-tat exchange appeared to hint at the simmering disharmony which
has reportedly existed within the England ranks. According to reports,
Prior made his comment about Pietersen at a question-and-answer session
in Dubai, insisting England needed players with passion for the cause in
their team.
Pietersen responded by mocking his old middle-order colleague's
recent form, labelling him 'The Big Cheese'.
"Fewer Q&A's, more Sussex nets methinks," Pietersen wrote on Twitter.
Pietersen, whose international career was effectively ended by the
England and Wales Cricket Board's decision to "start the rebuilding
process" without him on returning from Australia, then responded to a
number of replies to his initial tweet.
One urged him to "be strong", and Pietersen said: "I'm always strong!
The Big Cheese won't be happy in the Sussex nets...haha." When another
Twitter user suggested Pietersen's initial comment was "why KP isn't in
the England set up any more", the 33-year-old said: "neither is The Big
Cheese Prior!" Former England spinner Graeme Swann, who quit the
national team during the recent Ashes tour, joined the debate,
suggesting both Prior and Pietersen would have been better served
discussing their issues on the phone, instead of in public.
Swann told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think Matt's been a bit naive doing a
Q&A in Dubai...you're never safe in these things. But Kevin has come
back in a fairly childish way.
"I'm sure he (Pietersen) has still got his (Prior's) mobile number
and could have rung him. But public spats are the new thing." Swann
claimed Prior had actually been one of the few England players to
support Pietersen's return to the team following the batsman's axing for
allegedly sending text messages to South Africa players that contained
derogatory comments about his team-mates.
With that in mind, Swann said he was surprised to hear of the
deterioration of their relationship.
"Hand on heart I had no inkling of what was about to happen. I'm as
intrigued as anyone to know what's gone on," Swann added.
"Matt was one of Kevin's biggest allies when a lot of players thought
there was no way back for him. "But Alastair Cook and Matt talked us
round and said 'KP can change' - and he did.
"But what's gone on behind the scenes has obviously upset people to a
large extent."
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