CRICKET ASHES SERIES:ENGLAND OFFICIALS are already worried that Kevin Pietersen will miss this season's lucrative schedule of one-day internationals following the player's withdrawal from the Ashes series after surgery on an achilles tendon yesterday.
Pietersen has been sidelined for six weeks following the operation and ruled out of the remaining three Ashes Tests, with the third due to start at Edgbaston next Thursday.
The 29-year-old’s absence is a cruel setback for England, who lead the series 1-0 after beating Australia at Lord’s. A hectic programme of one-day matches gets under way just three days after the final Test, at The Oval, ends on August 24th, and last night experts warned Pietersen against coming back too soon.
Jason Nandlal, a consultant in podiatric surgery in London, said: “The thing about achilles is you really can’t rush them because if you do you are likely to cause a rupture, which can end someone’s playing career. If you do rupture your achilles tendon it is never quite the same.”
Pietersen himself said yesterday: “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. 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.
“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.”
Although Pietersen played in the 115-run victory over Australia at Lord’s, he spent lengthy spells off the field and was clearly in pain when running. Pietersen’s innings of 32 and 44 were below par for a batsman whose Test average is 50.72.
“To leave a winning dressing room at this time is heartbreaking, but it wouldn’t be fair to the team or myself to continue given the severity of the injury,” he said.
Neil Foster, the former Essex and England bowler whose career was plagued by injury and who is now a chartered physiotherapist, said: “That Kevin has had surgery would suggest it is badly inflamed or there is the risk of real damage there. In all probability he won’t be back for 10 weeks. There’s no point in rushing achilles injuries because if you do there is the danger of more serious damage.”
That makes Pietersen a serious doubt for the rest of the international season. After an ODI against Ireland in Belfast on August 27th, England face Australia in Twenty20 matches on August 30th and September 1st. Then they play Australia in seven ODIs between September 4-20th, just five days before they open their Champions Trophy campaign in South Africa.
England are expected to call up Ian Bell to replace Pietersen. The Warwickshire batsman’s form has been encouraging but yesterday he was dismissed for seven.
Pietersen’s England team-mate Andrew Flintoff, who has his own injury worries, said: “It’s disappointing. Kevin is a massively influential player for our team. He is our best player so it is going to make it that little bit tougher for us. But Kevin probably hasn’t been himself with the injury for the last couple of weeks. I know for a fact he has been feeling it. He has been in pain and the best thing he can do is get fit for England as soon as he can . ”
