Kevin Pietersen Disagreed With Alastair Cook But Did Not Row

Kevin Pietersen had a disagreement with England captain Alastair Cook during the disastrous Ashes tour but there was no confrontation as has been widely reported, BBC Sport has been told.

Cook is believed to have played an influential role in the decision to end Pietersen's international career.

But reports the pair clashed before the final Test are not true.

Pietersen disagreed with Cook's idea that the team needed to improve fitness and commitment, but there was no row.

With England trailing the series 4-0 after Australia's dominant eight-wicket victory in Melbourne, Cook and his players had a team meeting.

 Cook and vice-captain Matt Prior advocated the need for a change in atmosphere and suggested the younger players needed a more constructive approach from team director Andy Flower, who has since left his post.

Cook asked Pietersen for his thoughts and the 33-year-old told the captain he was fully behind him.

Pietersen later told Flower to his face what had been discussed after the batsman was invited for a chat with the Zimbabwean.

Then the day before the final Test in Sydney, Cook told the players they needed to get fitter and have more commitment.

At that point, Pietersen told Cook he disagreed with that approach, arguing it was performance levels and not fitness issues that were the reasons for England's poor displays.

Pietersen felt the younger players in particular needed a less intense environment, but his comments did not result in a row.

The same cannot be said of Prior and Piers Morgan following claims by the TV personality - an ally of Pietersen's - that the wicketkeeper openly criticised Flower during the Ashes tour.

Curled from BBC