Pietersen furious after 'lies' about gifts

England

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen is once again in the headlines after some at the ECB apparently told journalists at Lord's that the controversial retiree had handed back his 100th Test gifts.

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen is once again in the headlines after someone at the the ECB apparently told journalists at Lord's that the controversial retiree had handed back his 100th Test gifts.

Pietersen was told he was no longer part of England's plans after the tour to Australia earlier this year, and then retired from the international game. He'd played 104 Tests, and was given a framed silver cap upon his 100th.

The Sun ran a story on Wednesday morning saying, "Kevin Pietersen is so bitter about his treatment by England that he has returned the two gifts he was given to mark his 100th Test."

Pietersen exploded on Wednesday morning, with a picture of the gift in question, saying: "LIES from @JohnSunCricket this morning! Who briefs you, John? Care 2 check ur facts instead of misleading the public?"

He then continued, directly to The Sun's John Etheridge: "1/2 @JohnSunCricket it's highly irresponsible journalism. Next time before you print LIES, check your facts!"

Etheridge replied: "@KP24 Was told categorically at Lord's yesterday that gifts were returned and in ECB offices. Weird – will investigate. Can only apologise."

To which KP responded: "@JohnSunCricket whoever is briefing the cricket press has an agenda…aren't you intelligent enough to have realised that by now?"

A few hours later, Pietersen followed up with: "I wonder how @JohnSunCricket's investigation is going? Why don't you tell the public who fed you lies and how often they've done it?"

This is the latest is a long line of spats between Pietersen and the ECB, if they did in fact tell the media that the gifts had been returned. ECB boss Paul Downton was forced to apologise last week after discussing Pietersen with the media in a way that breached their confidentiality agreement.

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