This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/07/kevin-pietersen-andy-flower-england-cricket

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Kevin Pietersen: ‘Andy Flower had it in for me ever since he took over’ Kevin Pietersen: ‘Andy Flower had it in for me ever since he took over’
(about 1 hour later)
Kevin Pietersen has claimed that the former England coach Andy Flower had it in for him from the day he took charge in 2009, adding that he felt he was bullied during his time in the national set-up.Kevin Pietersen has claimed that the former England coach Andy Flower had it in for him from the day he took charge in 2009, adding that he felt he was bullied during his time in the national set-up.
Pietersen, England’s highest ever run scorer, who was sacked in February by the ECB, five days after Flower resigned, also added that he still does not know why he is no longer part of the international side.Pietersen, England’s highest ever run scorer, who was sacked in February by the ECB, five days after Flower resigned, also added that he still does not know why he is no longer part of the international side.
“Flower had it in for me ever since he took over,” Pietersen told BBC 4’s Today programme. “The ECB needed a scapegoat.“Flower had it in for me ever since he took over,” Pietersen told BBC 4’s Today programme. “The ECB needed a scapegoat.
“When they sacked me they never gave me any reasons. I still don’t know right now why I’m not playing for England. “When they sacked me they never gave me any reasons. I still don’t know right now why I’m not playing for England. The ECB needed someone to walk, to depart from the team.”
“The ECB needed someone to walk, to depart from the team.”
Pietersen’s sacking included a confidentiality agreement, covering all concerned parties, but that expired at the end of September and the South Africa born batsman’s new book, ‘KP: The Autobiography’, is released on Thursday.Pietersen’s sacking included a confidentiality agreement, covering all concerned parties, but that expired at the end of September and the South Africa born batsman’s new book, ‘KP: The Autobiography’, is released on Thursday.
Pietersen does not hold back in the book, attacking the wicketkeeper Matt Prior and Flower, who he describes as “contagiously sour, infectiously dour” and that “95 per cent of the time he was fucking horrendous” to work with”, adding: “He could walk into a room and suck all the joy out of it in five seconds.” Pietersen does not hold back in the book, attacking the wicketkeeper Matt Prior and Flower, who he describes as “contagiously sour, infectiously dour” and that “95 per cent of the time he was fucking horrendous” to work with, adding: “He could walk into a room and suck all the joy out of it in five seconds.”
Earlier this week in an interview with the Telegraph, Pietersen told how Flower, his coaching staff and the senior England players oversaw “a bullying culture” within the dressing room and on Tuesday he reiterated the point, saying: “In the England dressing room I felt isolated, I felt like I was being bullied.”Earlier this week in an interview with the Telegraph, Pietersen told how Flower, his coaching staff and the senior England players oversaw “a bullying culture” within the dressing room and on Tuesday he reiterated the point, saying: “In the England dressing room I felt isolated, I felt like I was being bullied.”
Flower resigned as England coach in the aftermath of the 5-0 Ashes defeat to Australia last winter after almost five years in the role. Pietersen’s sacking followed imminently after a meeting with the captain, Alastair Cook, the chairman of selectors, James Whitaker, and the ECB managing director, Paul Downton.Flower resigned as England coach in the aftermath of the 5-0 Ashes defeat to Australia last winter after almost five years in the role. Pietersen’s sacking followed imminently after a meeting with the captain, Alastair Cook, the chairman of selectors, James Whitaker, and the ECB managing director, Paul Downton.