No fallout between Pietersen, Swann over ‘poor captain’ comment: ECB

London: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has attempted to play down talk of any fallout between batsman Kevin Pietersen and off-spinner Graeme Swann over his “poor captain” comment in his autobiography.

According to the Daily Express, Swann’s book contains his thoughts about Kevin Pietersen’s leadership skills, and they are not complimentary. It led to an awkward atmosphere during practice at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium yesterday ahead of England’s final warm-up for the ODI series against India. A team spokesman suggested that there was “no problem” between the pair who had enjoyed a laugh and a joke in the practice session, although there seemed no evidence of them sharing it together. Swann has a book to sell and no one better understands those mechanics than Pietersen. However his comments that the latter was “not a natural leader of men” and “I wouldn’t say he was useless but...” are hardly designed to make dinner convivial at the team hotel. ANI