James Anderson reacts to Kevin Pietersen's bullying allegations
England fast bowler James Anderson has denied Kevin Pietersen’s accusations of a bullying culture prevailing in the England team during his time and added that the dressing room atmosphere over the last few years has, in actual fact, been “amazing”.
Pietersen’s autobiography, which was published on Thursday, blamed Anderson, among others, for creating a bowling clique within the team and for ridiculing players who would commit mistakes in the field.
Anderson, who is on the verge of becoming England’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, became the first current England players to react publicly to the contents of Pietersen’s much-publicised book.
He said that the England team will not let Pietersen’s comments distract them when they next play in a 7-match ODI series in Sri Lanka next month.
"We’ve got cricket to play – more important things to worry about than someone’s book," he told an audience at a Hardys wine event at Lord’s on Thursday night.
"The issues that have been brought up are sad really – the dressing room for the last seven or eight years when we’ve been winning has been amazing.
"You don’t achieve what we have without guys pulling in the same direction. I can’t get my head round it, he seems like he’s just not enjoyed it for however long.
"This is not an ideal situation but it’s different with Kev. He never got a chance to stand up for himself in the dressing room because the opportunity to be in the dressing room was taken away from him by the powers that be. He is now venting his frustration through a book. You never get a team where everyone gets on together."