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Graeme Smith: Kevin Pietersen is right about England’s bullying culture Graeme Smith: Kevin Pietersen is right about England’s bullying culture
(35 minutes later)
The former South Africa captain Graeme Smith has backed Kevin Pietersen’s claims that there was a bullying culture in England’s cricket team and admitted his sides tried to use it against them to gain an advantage.The former South Africa captain Graeme Smith has backed Kevin Pietersen’s claims that there was a bullying culture in England’s cricket team and admitted his sides tried to use it against them to gain an advantage.
In his autobiography which was released on Thursday, Pietersen alleged wicket-keeper Matt Prior and senior bowlers Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann would force team-mates to apologise for misfields and dropped catches during matches – claims which have been denied by Prior and Swann.In his autobiography which was released on Thursday, Pietersen alleged wicket-keeper Matt Prior and senior bowlers Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann would force team-mates to apologise for misfields and dropped catches during matches – claims which have been denied by Prior and Swann.
However Smith – who was captain of South Africa during the 2012 series that saw Pietersen suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for sending text messages to members of the opposition – insisted that, like former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, he was aware of divisions within the dressing room. However Smith, who was captain of South Africa during the 2012 series when Pietersen was suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board for sending text messages to members of the opposition, insisted that, like former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, he was aware of divisions within the dressing room.
“It’s well documented that in the early days myself and Kevin didn’t get on too well but that is behind us now,” said Smith in an interview with Johannesburg-based radio station Highveld FM on Thursday morning.“It’s well documented that in the early days myself and Kevin didn’t get on too well but that is behind us now,” said Smith in an interview with Johannesburg-based radio station Highveld FM on Thursday morning.
“Some of the stuff he touches on [in Pietersen’s book] I can believe and having played against him we always said if we could get a win and get ahead they would turn on each other.“Some of the stuff he touches on [in Pietersen’s book] I can believe and having played against him we always said if we could get a win and get ahead they would turn on each other.
“A lot of the stuff he has touched on in his book, the bullying stuff, you experienced playing against them and you knew you could use it as an asset against them. “A lot of the stuff he has touched on in his book, the bullying stuff, you experienced playing against them and you knew you could use it as an asset against them.”
Smith added: “KP is a draw card and world cricket loves to watch him play the game. It is sad he is not playing international cricket anymore. English cricket are worse off without him and man-management is a big factor in why he is not there.” Smith added: “KP is a draw card and world cricket loves to watch him play the game. It is sad he is not playing international cricket any more. English cricket are worse off without him and man-management is a big factor in why he is not there.”