No problem with KP - Swann

Graeme Swann sought out Kevin Pietersen to ensure there would be no permanent misunderstanding between them over his parting shot about arrogant Test cricketers.

It was widely interpreted initially, after Swann voiced his antipathy at his retirement press conference for players with their "heads up their own backsides", that he was perhaps speaking about Pietersen.

The pair have not always seen eye to eye during their England careers.

Swann, however, was subsequently at pains via Twitter and in his newspaper column to stress his remarks were about opposition players rather than any in the England team he has left behind.

He has enlarged upon that on BBC Radio 5 Live, explaining he made a point of discussing the matter personally with Pietersen.

"I've spoken to Kev yesterday," he said, in an interview broadcast on day one of the fourth Test at the MCG.

"I assured him there was nothing in it aimed towards him.

"He said 'I know exactly who you were talking about'."

Swann made it clear that all his former team-mates also know which opposing players have annoyed him.

"All the England guys are with me, and they know who grinds my gears around the world in cricket," he said.

"Perhaps the rest of the world will - maybe I'll have to release a new book now!"

Record-breaking off-spinner Swann divided opinion by choosing to retire mid-series, with the Ashes lost and England hoping to avoid a 5-0 whitewash.

He said: "It was a big decision.

"I got a lot of good reaction immediately, and a lot of poor reaction the next day when the press decided to spin the story and look for cracks in the England armoury that just aren't there.

"I suppose that's because of the state we find ourselves in in the series - 3-0 down and with the Ashes already lost.

"So everyone assumes there must be rifts, there must be anger, there must be people throwing punches at each other in the changing room.

"Unfortunately, it's just not there. A few people need to realise that and get back behind the England cricket team."