News Sports Cricket Kevin Pietersen's book rocked cricket but dig a little deeper

Kevin Pietersen's book rocked cricket but dig a little deeper

Kevin Pietersen's autobiography seems to have an endless stream of sad score-settling.But while the former England batsman's claims of a bullying culture are certainly worthy of investigation, it's KP's mass of contradictions that leap off


Who bullies a bully?

One of Pietersen's central claims is that a culture of bullying existed in the England dressing room, particularly among the clique of Matt Prior, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann.

Yet in his book Pietersen is relentless in his contemptuous attitude towards Prior, assassinating his character and constantly ridiculing him with references to his moniker of ‘Cheese' or ‘Big Cheese', having a go at everything from his on-field attitude to his cycling obsession.

The scale of abuse he directs at Prior appears to be of a persecuting nature itself.

How about Pietersen sitting with his mouthpiece Piers Morgan at Lord's this summer while the broadcaster tweeted about Alastair Cook: ‘We're watching you captain weasel.' Is that not bullying?

What about Pietersen's criticism of batsman James Taylor on his debut at Headingley? He did this both to Andy Flower and his team-mates. He also criticised Michael Carberry, a supposed friend, in Sydney as England plunged to a 5-0 defeat. He asked Jonny Bairstow, in front of the team: ‘Is there not anybody better than this bloke in county cricket?'