Kevin Pietersen Saga Gets Ugly: Matt Prior Hits Back at Piers Morgan Allegations

The already-controversial Kevin Pietersen saga descended into unseemly back-and-forth on Wednesday, as England wicketkeeper Matt Prior felt compelled to defend his conduct after accusations on Twitter.

Piers Morgan, the prominent CNN journalist and close friend of Pietersen, continued his outburst at the treatment of the former England batsman—whose international career was effectively ended by the England Cricket Board on Tuesday, when he was not selected for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies—by roping in Prior, claiming Prior had criticised ex-head coach Andy Flower following the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.

Prior did not take long to respond on Twitter, saying that this was "just an attempt to knock someone who has only ever had the best interests of the team at heart."

Morgan responded by pointing out that Prior had not denied making comments about Flower's ability, although others questioned where Morgan had got his information from—and what their underlying motives might be.

The spat continued a day of fallout from Tuesday's announcement. Earlier on Wednesday, Pietersen's wife, former Liberty X singer Jessica Taylor, angrily responded to suggestions that her husband had been involved in an argument with England Test captain Alastair Cook.

Pietersen's central contract with the ECB is expected to be ripped up in the next few days, once all parties agree on the financial and confidentiality elements of a settlement. But it seems unlikely to be the end of the rumours, accusations and innuendo about the incident—especially if Morgan has anything to say about it.