10 off-field feuds between on-field teammates
It is amazing to think how players who turn up for the same color, the same team, day in and day out, can carry on a disturbing personal relationship. It is a sad truth that even the happiest team photo has traces of resentment.It just so happens that some personalities are not made to bond well, be it with members of the same side or the opposition. For how much do nationalities divide humanity after all?There are also some individuals who never get along with anybody - players, coach, personnel or fans. Looking at a few instances in history it seems Sri Lanka and New Zealand have some of the most disciplined players with hardly any instance reported of infighting.Here's a look at the few most media-highlighted ones over the years:
#10 Kevin Pietersen - Matt Prior
This can be considered to be the greatest one of the greatest blow-ups in cricket, in recent times.
KP, a great match winner in every right, had numerous falling outs with several members of the England team but the most famous one was with his once buddy, wicket-keeper Matt Prior. After his sacking the star batsman had come out with his autoiography, in which he wrote:
“It’s only Prior that I’d seriously have real issues with, because of how he was portrayed as a team man, the heart and soul of the dressing room, when he was getting up to the stuff he was getting up to.”, writes Pietersen.
He also criticised coach Andy Flower as having built a regimen of fear, and claimed the senior bowlers like Graeme Swann, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad formed a clique that intimidated young players. Consistently referring to him as “The Big Cheese” , Pietersen describes the ex-wicketkeeper as a loudmouthed “classroom bully strutting around the dressing room, showing off his new clothes and telling everyone about the amazing night outs he has”.
Prior’s vice-captaincy was also something he disapproved as he writes, “Being vice-captain seemed to go to his head. Sad, especially when he isn’t really vice-captain material at all.” Pietersen also thought Prior was selfish, but double standards were used while dealing with him. He records one instance in Australia where the wicket-keeper had gotten concerned with his Big Bash team (in which he wasn’t even playing) when his country was losing in a Test Match.
In response Matt Prior has promised to retaliate with his own version of things in the near future. But the relationship of the former mates clearly stands in acerbic ruins at the moment.