Former England captain Alec Stewart has insisted that 'player power' needs to be quashed in cricket.

The national side is reportedly divided following Kevin Pietersen's omission from the tour of India after the Surrey batsman was dropped from the England squad in a row over text messages sent to members of South Africa's Test team.

Stewart hopes that the 32-year-old will return to the national set-up, but believes that changes need to be made if it does happen.

"Once the healing process has taken place, I would hope KP will be accepted back into the dressing room and any anti-KP factions within the team have been broken up," said Stewart.

"Player power in any dressing room must never be allowed to rule and must be quashed by the true leaders - the coach and captain.

"Outside work you can pick and choose who you wish to socialise with, but during working hours you have to find a way of getting on with people. In my career, there were always players who did not get on, but it is part of the skill of the leaders to get everyone performing for the good of the team."

Stewart is the most capped English cricketer of all time in Test matches.