Prior fires fresh salvo against KP

England’s dressing room will be a better place without Kevin Pietersen after the controversial batsman was sacked following the dismal Ashes tour of Australia, wicketkeeper Matt Prior said on Thursday.

Prior, the tour vice-captain, said Pietersen’s ability should have made him “the best England cricketer to ever walk this planet” and the decision to dispense with him would not have been taken lightly.

When asked if the dressing room would be a better place without the South African-born batsman, Prior replied: “Yes, it will. I think one of the biggest things they (the ECB) want to rediscover is the value of playing cricket for England, the honour and the pride you need to show as an England cricketer.

“And they only want people in that dressing room that are going to be passionate about England winning and performing,” said Prior during a Q&A session at a cricketing event in Dubai.

Pietersen was released from his ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) contract earlier this month in the aftermath of the 5-0 Test whitewash by Australia Down Under.