Alec Stewart backs Kevin Pietersen over mock Twitter account
Ex-England captain says sacked batsman was right to criticise those who used the social media tool
Former England captain Alec Stewart said Kevin Pietersen had been right to complain of England players' Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan's access to a parody Twitter account mocking the sacked batsman.
Pietersen, in a heavily trailed autobiography, has written of a "bullying culture" during his time within the England dressing room.
In particular, he did not take kindly to the "KPgenius" Twitter account owned by Richard Bailey, a friend of England paceman Stuart Broad.
The reason I am prepared to talk about it is that he [Bailey] has said he didn't say anything to me and therefore is doubting my integrity and I won't have that
Pietersen's book states Bailey told Stewart he had insider help with the account. Bailey has persistently denied this and on Wednesday he again insisted no England players had been involved.
Stewart, South Africa-born Pietersen's coach at county side Surrey, contradicted Bailey's denial. "The reason I am prepared to talk about it is that he [Bailey] has said he didn't say anything to me and therefore is doubting my integrity and I won't have that," Stewart said.
"I'm not here to nail Pietersen, Broad, Swann, Bresnan. I'm an ex-England player and an England fan.
"What happened, back in 2012 at The Oval, this gentleman [Bailey] came up and said to me: 'I understand you follow the KPgenius Twitter account'.
"I said 'yes, some of it is funny, some of it is close to the bone'.