BBC's Jonathan Agnew quits Twitter after row with Kevin Pietersen's wife

Kevin Pietersen promoting his autobiography

Kevin Pietersen’s better half Jessica Taylor and BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew were involved in an ugly spat on Twitter, which saw the latter quit the social networking website.

Agnew, a former international cricketer himself, called Pietersen “an anxious, nervous character” on Tuesday’s Test Match Special without knowing that the 34-year-old was in the BBC building for an interview with Adrian Chiles. The TMS commentator went on claim that Pietersen’s sacking had a lot to do with the texts he sent to South African cricketers in 2012 and the Twitter parody account to which a few English players had the access to.

Later in the evening, Pietersen’s wife, a former Liberty X member, questioned why anyone would want to have the password to an account if they don’t intend to use it. Agnew replied to her stating that the said English players never posted anything from the account, but did only provide information.

Here’s how the conversation went:

There is absolutely no reason to have the password for a Twitter account unless you intend to tweet from it. Anyone with a brain knows that.

— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaLibertyX) October 8, 2014

@JessicaLibertyX this is what I said ‘not in running the account, as he has suggested, but in contributing information to it’ bails ran it

— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) October 8, 2014

@Aggerscricket 1/2 the only reason for having the password to a Twitter account is if you intend to tweet from it - no need otherwise...

— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaLibertyX) October 8, 2014

@Aggerscricket 2/2 anyone who has the password is potentially involved in 'running' the account. It seems there were 4 people running it.

— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaLibertyX) October 8, 2014

@JessicaLibertyX One person runs an account. Others can access it and provide info to it. That’s what I said in a totally balanced article.

— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) October 8, 2014

@Aggerscricket 1/2 oh dear must I explain this again? If you have the password you can tweet directly from it! No reason to need the...

— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaLibertyX) October 8, 2014

@Aggerscricket 2/2 ...password unless that is your intention. If you are tweeting from it you are also 'running' it.

— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaLibertyX) October 8, 2014

@JessicaLibertyX lose the attitude. One person (account holder) runs the account. Others, with access, can provide info. That’s what i said

— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) October 8, 2014

@Aggerscricket 'providing info' as in tweeting directly from it?

— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaLibertyX) October 8, 2014

Following the conversation, Agnew posted a tweet stating that he had no intention to use Twitter as a tool for communication any longer, with his new bio reading: “This account is currently used purely for monitoring Twitter news feeds. No tweeting and no interaction.”

Almost did this last night, but will now. This is not what Twitter was when I joined. I will now leave it to the bullies and trolls. Shame.

— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) October 8, 2014