Botham embarrassed with childish, petty squabbling over KP's take on English cricket

Former England Test Cricket and captain Ian Botham has said that the childish, petty squabbling over Kevin Pietersen's autobiography going on at the top of English cricket right now is quite frankly kids stuff and he feels embarrassed about the way they are carrying on.

Botham has asked the English cricketers to stop blaming one for doing 'this to someone and that to someone' and said that to do him a favour and grow up.

Botham said that playing cricket for ones country is the very pinnacle of professional sport and added that right now it is amateur hour across the board and sadly it is the game itself that looks worse for it, The Mirror reported.

The former England captain said that Pietersen has made the decision to air his grievances and that is up to him, but added that from what he has read and heard it is more about score settling than the great times the batsman gave England with his cricket.

Botham said that he must make it clear that he has not read the book, but added that he is seeing the fallout and have spoken at length with those who have.

Botham said that what he has done is live and breath in an international dressing room and plenty of other professional ones besides and added that he is thoroughly unimpressed at what has come spilling out of the England one.

The former Test cricketer said that dressing rooms can be harsh places, adding that they can trip one up at any moment, but also added that they can be the sanctum where one would have the best days of ones life.

Botham said that players have long had banter and given each other stick, adding that it is part of the cut and thrust of the job, the best job a man could ever have.

Botham also said that what a shame that the cricket has largely been forgotten amongst the childishness.