England fast bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson have said that ousted batsman Kevin Pietersen's allegations of a bully culture in the dressing room has saddened and disappointed them.
Both pacers also denied any involvement in a Twitter account that set out to parody the former batsman.
Broad said that the bullying word has not crossed his mind in eight or nine years of playing international cricket. While, Anderson said that a bullying culture was certainly not something he remembers, The BBC reported.
Pietersen, sacked by England in February, claimed in his book that Broad, Graeme Swann and Matt Prior were the ring-leaders in a bullying clique, and added that Anderson ran with them.
Broad said that it sounds like Pietersen didn't enjoy his time in the England side which is disappointing to hear.
Anderson said that it puts a bitter taste in ones mouth about a really fruitful time for an England team who were one of the best England teams he has been around in recent times.
Pietersen, who scored 8,181 runs at an average of 47 in 104 Tests, had his contract terminated following England's 5-0 Ashes defeat down under as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) set out to create a new team ethic without the South Africa-born batsman.
In an inflammatory memoir, released earlier in October, Pietersen said that he was marginalized and demonised by the England team management.
Pietersen also accused head coach Andy Flower and some senior players of creating an intimidating team atmosphere in which players were forced to apologise if they dropped a catch or made mistakes while fielding.
Broad and Anderson both said they could not recall players being asked to say sorry for errors, but defended the will to win of a team that won the Ashes in 2009, 2010-11 and 2013 and rose to number one in the world Test rankings in 2011.
Image: Stuart Broad of England celebrates with James Anderson
Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
