Former England spinner Graeme Swann has confessed that he and Kevin Pietersen used to dislike each other openly during their playing days. However, the rift went for a toss when it came to winning games for England.
Whether it was England’s Ashes triumph down under in 2010-11, Test series win on Indian soil in 2012-13 among other achievements, Swann and Pietersen had played instrumental roles in all.
“We are a team that got to number one in the world, and in a team there are always going to be individuals. Ninety-nine per cent of that side were all in it for the team,” the former off-spinner said in a podcast called ‘In the Pink’.
Kevin Pietersen was a controversial figure in the hugely successful English side. He was dropped from the team in 2012 after allegedly sending insulting messages about then captain Andrew Strauss to his visiting South African mates.
Later, Pietersen's untenable relationship with former England coach Andy Flower and skipper Alastair Cook came to the fore. His international career eventually ended abruptly at the culmination of the nation's 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia in 203-14.
Swann, who claimed 255 wickets in 60 Tests, said despite the differences, he wanted Pietersen in the team for his batting prowess.
“With Kevin Pietersen, we had a situation where he had been captain before and didn’t much like establishment and rules,” Swann said. “We were actually very similar in that way, and we actually got on me and KP professionally better than most people because we very honest with but openly disliked each other. But wanted each other in the team.”
Pietersen represented England in 104 Tests, scoring 8181 runs at an average of 47.28, including 23 tons and 35 half-centuries.
“I wanted a KP in the team because he was scoring a lot of runs and playing really well, and simply he was one of the best batsmen in the world.”
Commenting on the texting saga, Swann said: “There were times when it was all exterior things like the texting against Andrew Strauss.”
“When you get to the point when you’re having these team meetings and discussing what you’re going to do about these text messages but the player is saying ‘I didn’t send them’…
“And then subsequently he says he did but only because they’re my mates, that certainly didn’t help things.”
(Inputs from PTI)
