Graeme Swann says Kevin Pietersen book a ‘work of fiction’

Former England teammate Graeme Swann has said Kevin Pietersen's new autobiography is the "the biggest work of fiction since Jules Verne".

Speaking at an awards ceremony at Lord’s, Swann denied accusations by Pietersen that he was part of a clique of bowlers who perpetuated a “bullying culture” in the England dressing room.

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior was singled out by Pietersen, who called him a "schoolyard bully who was also the teacher's pet", and accuses him of "back-stabbing".

But Swann said: “I expected it to be the biggest work of fiction since Jules Verne and that seems to have happened. The one thing I will say is that 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. 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. If that (bullying) was the case a lot of people would have flagged it up before.”

Prior initially made a joke of the book’s revelations on Twitter but added that he would give his version of events in the future.

He wrote: “After this morning, I’m looking forward to reading the full kp book. Might bully my kids into getting it for me for Xmas!!

“Obvs sad to see the accusations against me this am and I WILL have my right of reply! However today is not the day and Twitter is not the place for it!

“Now back to my Achilles rehab and learning to walk again! have a great day everyone.”

Pietersen blames former coach Andy Flower for allowing a clique, led by fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad, as well as Prior, for exerting a negative influence in the dressing room, which he claims allowed bullying to take hold.

The book has predictably divided opinion, with former England captain Michael Vaughan bemoaning the saga and the end of Pietersen's international career.

Vaughan, who captained Pietersen in the early years of his England career, wrote on Twitter: "Find all the fall out in English Cricket very very sad...Many to blame but mostly it's been a lack of communication and Man Management....

“Won’t play for England again. So I will remember @KP24 for what he was.A maverick who could play innings that no other England player could.!”

Vaughan's predecessor as England skipper, Nasser Hussain, agreed with several points in Pietersen's book.

“It really tells you a lot about team spirit ... always there when you’re winning but always fades away when you’re losing,” he said on Sky Sports News. “A lot of the stuff I’ve read (from Kevin) this afternoon, I’ve nodded at and agreed with ... about shouting at players in the outfield.

“I always found that a little bit odd. Team spirit is about respect ... what happened in the end was that the respect had gone, between Kevin and his team-mates. Some of them didn’t respect him, and he certainly didn’t respect some of them.

“Once you lose that respect, and then start losing games of cricket, I’m afraid the wheels can only come off. It’s a fine line between banter and bullying.”

Conversely, former England seamer Dominic Cork, now a prominent pundit in the game, denied Pietersen's version of events, believing the batsman was simply seeking revenge for the premature end to his international career.

He told talkSPORT: “Do I think Kevin Pietersen was personally bullied? No, and the reason is because I have been so close to him. Did he look the sort of person who looked like he was lost and in a bad place? No.

“He was the person who had his own seat on the bus, and no one else could sit on that seat because that was Kevin’s seat. He wants to put out this story because he feels the way he was treated was unjust.

“Andy Flower took England to number one in the world so he did something right. There was a clash of personalities, they didn’t get on, so this is about getting back at Flower. Just remember, Kevin Pietersen, during his time here in England, has left a trail of destruction wherever he has been.”