KP out of Ashes series

England's star batsman misses rest of Ashes summer through injury

Last updated: 23rd July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

KP out of Ashes series

Pietersen: Out of Ashes

To leave a winning dressing room at this time is heart breaking but it wouldn't be fair to the team or myself to continue given the severity of the injury. I'll be supporting the team closely and wish them the best of luck as they look to build on the brilliant win at Lord's and reclaim the Ashes.

Kevin Pietersen
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Kevin Pietersen will miss the rest of the Ashes series after having surgery on his Achilles tendon injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Wednesday.

Pietersen was visibly struggling with the injury during the second Test victory at Lord's, and was sent to see a specialist to try and find a way to complete the series.

However, after playing in 54 consecutive Tests for England, Pietersen will now miss out on the final three Ashes Tests this summer.

"As an England cricketer the Ashes are the pinnacle of the game so I'm absolutely devastated to be missing the rest of this series," Pietersen said in a statement on the ECB website.

"Up until now the Achilles injury has been manageable but it recently reached the point where we needed to look at other options in terms of treatment.

Missing

"I hate missing matches for England and especially during an Ashes summer but now that the decision has been made to undergo surgery I'm confident I can return to the England team injury-free following a course of rehabilitation.

"I was pleased with the previous course of treatment as it allowed me to take part in this Ashes series but unfortunately the injury has recently deteriorated.

"To leave a winning dressing room at this time is heart breaking but it wouldn't be fair to the team or myself to continue given the severity of the injury. I'll be supporting the team closely and wish them the best of luck as they look to build on the brilliant win at Lord's and reclaim the Ashes."

The ECB's chief medical officer, Nick Peirce, said that surgery was the only way forward for Pietersen, who will miss all forms of cricket for up to six weeks.

"Following a consultation, involving scans and testing, with the world's leading Achilles specialist Kevin Pietersen today underwent surgery on his right Achilles tendon," Peirce said in a statement.

Rehab

"Kevin will look to undertake a comprehensive rehabilitation programme to ensure there is no risk of recurrence. This is expected to be approximately six weeks but will be taken at an appropriate pace following constant review.

"Despite conventional conservative treatments to the tendon with trial periods of rest and rehabilitation, Kevin continued to be in significant discomfort and is currently unable to run or even walk comfortably.

"He had a strong desire to get through the Ashes series but despite this he has recently been unable to achieve a maximum level of performance.

"A number of short-term measures were considered but having been reviewed by the specialist, who flew into London from Sweden specifically, it was felt that anything else would put the tendon at risk and jeopardise his long term recovery."

England now face a big selection issue for the third Test at Edgbaston, but Ian Bell would have to be the favourite to make a return to the side in his place.

Comments (83)

Rhys Middleton says...

well obviously they have lost their best player, he's south african!!!! stop looking at foreigners to bolster your teams and try find your own talent!

Posted 02:05 23rd July 2009

Gary Cornelius says...

Freddie bowled his complete heart out and you could see the pain edged all over his face. KP batted average and ran not even half as much as the big man. Comittment must be called into question and is he giving his all to the three lions? I seriously doubt he is.

Posted 01:57 23rd July 2009

Jake Stansbury says...

I think Eoin Morgan should be chosen as i saw him play in the world 20/20 and he was a superb batsmen

Posted 00:05 23rd July 2009

Keith Chilvers says...

KP is a great star and a great showman - the downside of that is that sometimes he can give his wicket away too easily. The rest of this series is likely to turn into a war of attrition that needs cool heads and steady hands - I favour Tresco myself

Posted 23:46 22nd July 2009

Sam G says...

In a way, this could be a blessing in disguise. Injurys are horrible, but KP's ego is huge, and not needed in an Ashess series. Bell seems the most likely person to take his place, but yeah, Trescothic will be brilliant, and make sense... Adding experience. Do impulsive selectors read this?

Posted 23:27 22nd July 2009

Dave Robb says...

Oh dear, Imagine if England had to play the rest of the Ashes series only able to pick Englishmen. What a disaster.

Posted 23:06 22nd July 2009

Charlie Unsworth says...

i think rob key should be given another chance, but failing that, we should look to tresco (if he has recovered enough from his illness that ended his career previously) to open with strauss and bring cook down the order

Posted 22:02 22nd July 2009

Dudley Von loggenburg says...

Get well soon Kevin, you will be back and have always enjoy watching your matches, the boys in the team will miss your imput but am sure with the usual resilience from the team we will put up strong performance. Keep focused and the best of British to all. Will watch remaining Tests with interest and wish all the Team the very best from sunny S Africa.

Posted 21:25 22nd July 2009

Nabeel Hussain says...

Owais Shah should be given the go ahead rather than Bell who has had far too many chances.. Shah is a better all round batsman.. Would personally love to see Trescothick back in the team but cant see that happening..

Posted 21:19 22nd July 2009

Paul Greenfield says...

We just need to find a batsman who can average 30ish ?? No big deal, we are one up in the series and that's all he has done!! I would have been more worried if Colly was out!!

Posted 21:18 22nd July 2009

Phil Mills says...

What a big loss. I am only sorry Vaughan has retired as he would have been my immediate replacement ( should have been there from the start). Bell I think will come in for KP and I think he will relish the chance to get back in the team and do the nation very proud and assist the boys to regain The Little Urn and The Ashes.

Posted 21:16 22nd July 2009

James Butler says...

Its gotta be Trescothick........convince him, one last hurrah for the best opening batsman in world cricket!!! With the current Aussie attack, it'll be a run fest for Banger (trescothick).

Posted 21:13 22nd July 2009

Ben Mallett says...

Real shame about KP. It won't happen but i'd love to see Chris Nash from sussex come in, I reckon he's got enough runs of late to justify consideration

Posted 20:32 22nd July 2009

Jonno Verity says...

Hildreth should be called up, best young player in country by far, bell cant buy a run. We love Hildreth, failing that Tresco

Posted 20:19 22nd July 2009

David Warren says...

Trescothick is a great idea he had the measure of Australia in 2005 and could do so again. Hope Flintoff can stay fit as his absence would hurt us more than Pieterson

Posted 20:16 22nd July 2009

Johnny Oscar says...

This is really a no brainer, KP forced out by injury Owais "Ace" Shah in as a replacement. I have a feeling the Ashes will be decided at The Oval and Shah loves batting there. He recently dispatched the Surrey bowling attack to all parts of the Oval. He is a Touch of Class and will not be troubled by the impotent Aussie bowling attack.

Posted 19:55 22nd July 2009

James Mcintosh says...

Kevin can be a great batsman but he hasnt exactly shown his batting formin this ashes series so his replacement (Bell) wont have to score that many runs to compensate for his absence. Kevins other failing in this series is an inabilty to be a team player by giving his wicket away too cheaply

Posted 19:47 22nd July 2009

Tom Dearlove says...

Bell has experience and is averaging 80 for Warickshire this season, he should play at 4.

Posted 19:00 22nd July 2009

Harry Groves says...

surely Luke wright has to be in with a shot, i know bell is where the sesible money is but wright has shown his ability with the bat and the ball in recent months. if he could get over his confidence issues when stepping up to the test circuit and improve his defensive game i believe he has what it takes to fill KP's shoes. as well as taking some pressure off flintoff.

Posted 18:52 22nd July 2009

Bill Corry says...

Lets hope they remove the photos of him around the ground too! He is a prima donna in a team sport!

Posted 18:35 22nd July 2009

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