Kevin Pietersen has accused wicketkeeper Matt Prior of being a disruptive influence in the England dressing-room and former coach Andy Flower of ruling ''by fear''.

But Pietersen spoke positively about captain Alastair Cook in his first interview to promote his autobiography, which will be released for sale on Thursday.

Prior is on the receiving end of Pietersen's strongest criticism in a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Telegraph, in which the former Test batsman objects to Prior's portrayal as a ''team man'' and claims ''a lot of people are very happy'' the former vice-captain no longer has a central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Pietersen claimed England's bowlers, led by James Anderson and Stuart Broad, ''ran the dressing room'', with fielders forced to apologise for errors and dropped catches.

But while he insists he still wants to return to the England team and would have no problem doing so alongside Broad and Anderson, Prior's alleged part in the culture is a different matter.

''The bowlers were given so much power,'' he said. ''(Graeme Swann) was winning game after game for us. Broady was contributing. Jimmy was contributing. But these guys ran the dressing room.

''The thing that horrified me was when Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss said: 'Guys we've got to stop this, it's not right for the team, there are guys that have come to us that are intimidated to field the ball.'

''And (the bowlers) had the audacity to stand there and say: 'No, if they've ****** up we deserve an apology.' It's the most angry I ever got in that dressing room.

''I thought, 'I reckon I could hit these guys. Who do you think you are, to ask for an apology from someone who's trying his heart out? Are you perfect, are you never going to drop a catch? Are you never going to bowl a wide?'

''But the double standard for me was the bigger thing. If one of them messed up - if Jimmy messed up, or Swanny - nothing was ever said. Prior left them alone.

''I went after Prior and said Prior shouldn't be in that side because he's a bad influence, a negative influence - he picks on players. He's back-stabbing, he's horrendous, he's bad for the environment.

''He's one bloke that quite a few - I could count on more than one hand - have said: 'Please can you tell the world what that guy's like.'

''It's only Prior that I'd seriously have real issues with, because of how he was portrayed as a team man, the heart and soul of the dressing room, when he was getting up to the stuff he was getting up to.''

On Flower, South Africa-born Pietersen claimed: ''He didn't like one of his soldiers to hammer him. 'He was the boss. He wanted me to fear him. I'll never fear you, buddy.''

Pietersen also claimed he was ignored after trying to alert Flower to the anxiety condition which forced Jonathan Trott's withdrawal from last winter's Ashes.

However, the 34-year-old was not so critical about Alastair Cook, who found himself under increasing pressure as captain and batsman earlier this year following a miserable run which saw England lose seven of nine Tests.

Pietersen said: ''I hate to see the way he was this summer, because the ECB have put him in a very uncomfortable position and they could ruin his career. They literally could ruin his career.''