Graeme Swann quickly dismissed Kevin Pietersen’s account of life in the England camp as “codswallop” yesterday and launched a strong defence of their former team-mate Matt Prior.
Speaking at Lord’s at an awards ceremony for grass-roots cricket, Swann said: “I expected it to be the biggest word of fiction since Jules Verne and that seems to have happened. I immediately realised it was codswallop when I read the character assassination of Matt Prior.
“Tragically, I don’t think Kev realises the one person who fought tooth and nail to keep him in the side is the one person he is now assassinating: Matt Prior.”
The current squad has been warned not to comment on the matter, and James Anderson said last week they would not be getting involved in a tit-for-tat argument.
Swann, who retired midway through last winter’s humiliating Ashes whitewash, added: “Kevin has been quite clever because the guys still playing he has left alone and he hopes to get back in again one day. He has picked on people who he thinks can’t answer back.”
Former England captain Nasser Hussain defended Pietersen’s right to have his say. “It makes fascinating reading,” he said. “KP has provided an insight into the dressing room, albeit his side of things.
“It is one thing taking the mickey out of someone but not about cricketing matters as they become very personal.”