Australia's cricketers have failed to upset England’s preparations with their pre-Ashes sledging so the media Down Under joined the fray today by claiming none of the tourists like Kevin Pietersen.
No doubt mindful of the rift in England’s camp caused by Pietersen’s provocative texts to South Africa players in the summer of 2012, a Brisbane newspaper today claimed: “He’s so arrogant not even his own team likes him.”
The batsman, who is fit for the First Test in Brisbane starting on Wednesday night despite recently having a cortisone injection in his troublesome knee, was pictured walking on his own and wearing headphones at the airport.
The Courier Mail said: “The walking ego of world cricket has arrived in Brisbane… walking alone as his team-mates joked and smiled for the cameras.”
Pietersen was dropped after his provocative texts about the then England captain Andrew Strauss but bridges appear to have been built following his return to the team after a period of reintegration.
The 33-year-old had the last laugh today, telling his Twitter followers: “I would have preferred a Sydney front page... But I’ll take Melbourne! No one has heard of Brisbane outside Oz!”
Stuart Broad, who expects to be public enemy No1 when the series starts after Australia coach Darren Lehmann told fans to “send him home in tears”, was also forced to defend himself today after being accused of having fans thrown out of the Sydney Cricket Ground last week.
Jimmy Smith, a former Sydney Roosters player turned broadcaster, tweeted: “Just heard that after minor heckling on Friday Stuart Broad asked two members to be removed.”
The angry bowler responded on Twitter: “If you’re gonna make stuff up to get attention for yourself you may as we’ll make it half decent. Pathetic.”
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Today’s bid to destabilise the team follows a string of attempts by players past and present, including Shane Warne and, last week, Mitchell Johnson, who said he would have no qualms about injuring England players by bowling at their throats.
Peter Siddle’s assertion today that they are going after captain and opener Alastair Cook will have little effect.
“I think we’ve always targeted Cook,” said Siddle. “He’s the man that opens up the batting, he’s the captain and he’s the one we want to put the pressure on.”
England keeper Matt Prior, who missed the game in Sydney with a calf problem, batted and trained at the Gabba today.
