Kevin Pietersen shows off his silver cap to disprove the story in the Sun © Twitter Enlarge

Kevin Pietersen has angrily denied reports in the Sun that he returned two gifts given to him by the ECB to mark his 100th Test cap in Brisbane last winter, posting a picture on his Twitter page showing him holding one of them.

Pietersen was presented with a silver cap - unfortunately with his name spelt "Pieterson" on the engraving - and a framed montage of pictures of his greatest moments last November, but the newspaper claimed he gave these back.

But taking to Twitter, Pietersen attacked John Ethridge, the Sun's long-standing cricket correspondent. "Who briefs you, John? Care 2 check ur facts instead of misleading the public?"

Posting the picture , he went on. "How stupid do you feel now eh John? #Plank. Tell us, John? It's highly irresponsible journalism. Next time before you print LIES, check your facts! Whoever is briefing the cricket press has an agenda...aren't you intelligent enough to have realised that by now?"

Ethridge sent an apology,explaining he was "told categorically at Lord's yesterday that gifts were returned and in ECB offices".

1/2 @JohnSunCricket it's highly irresponsible journalism. Next time before you print LIES, check your facts!— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) June 11, 2014

Earlier this week Kevin Pietersen said he had come to terms with being dumped by England and "moved on with my life".

An indication of the breakdown in the relationship between ex-player and board was evident at the ECB's Player of the Year awards at Lord's on Monday when Pietersen did not even get a passing acknowledgement despite his hundred against Australia at Old Trafford last summer or his scoring the most runs for England in Australia.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd