Graeme Swann has insisted that his comments about players being "up their own backsides" were not aimed at Kevin Pietersen or any of his other former England teammates.
The spinner was accused of targeting Pietersen in the press conference that followed the announcement of his retirement from cricket, despite not mentioning the batsman by name.
When asked if he was referring to any England players with his comments, Swann told Sky Sports News: "Categorically, no.
"I think there are certain players round the world who - let's say - are a bit full of themselves at the minute, and they'll come back to earth with a bump.
"I think KP summed it up beautifully the other day when we were talking about somebody - I can't even remember who. He said you never judge a player when he's doing well, you judge him when he's doing badly.
"That was the point I was trying to make - there are certain guys flying at the minute, but the game's going to come back and bite them on the backside, so those little comments they make, silly little press conferences, they'll come back and hurt them."
Spinners Scott Borthwick and James Tredwell have been selected by England to join up with the Ashes squad following Swann's retirement.
