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Kevin Pietersen is out of the Ashes series and will be sidelined for six weeks.
England's best batsman underwent surgery today to repair an Achilles injury, which has been troubling him for most of this year.
Pietersen hobbled through England's Second Test victory over Australia at Lord's but it was clear he would struggle to be fit for next week's third match at Edgbaston.
England sent the 29-year-old to see a specialist and the verdict today was for an immediate operation.
“Following a consultation, involving scans and testing, with the world's leading Achilles' specialist, Kevin today had surgery on his right Achilles tendon,” said England's chief medical officer Nick Peirce. Pietersen must have been preparing himself for the bad news, but today's decision has still come as a huge blow.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“I was pleased with the previous course of treatment as it allowed me to take part in this Ashes 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.”
England also have injury concerns over Andrew Flintoff (knee). Pietersen's place, meanwhile, seems certain to go to Ian Bell.
Reader views (5)
He seems to have been able to go clubbing into the early hours with his dodgy achillies!!!!
Surely some r&r would have been more advisable but no... the minor celeb lists are more important to him!
- Jh, London, 22/07/2009 17:25
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Typical England!!!!
Pietersen is ruled out for the rest of the Ashes so what will the selectors do..........pick a replacement from within this exlusive clique and plump for Ian Bell.
Rob Key for Kent is on fire and fully deserves a crack of the whip against one of the poorest Aussie teams weve seen for decades on these shores. Ian Bell has had plenty of chances and yet our boring minded selectors continue to plump for the same old failures.
Pick Bell and wse'll lose these Ashes!!
- Steve, Medway,England, 22/07/2009 16:47
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"it wouldn't be fair to the team or myself to continue.” Since when did the benefit of the team ever enter his thoughts? Awesome one-day batsman, never a test batsman in a million years. He won't be missed one bit. He's too vain to realise if he got his head down he could become an England legend.
- Rob, London, 22/07/2009 16:42
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KP is out of form, has lost the england captaincy and the other players don't like his arrogant attitude.
Why should he do the england team any favours by playing through the pain.
He has lost interest in England as is slowly losing the support of the fans with his sullen look.
A shame as he could have been a great player if he had the same commitment as Ponting or Tendulkar.
- William Jenkins, london, 22/07/2009 16:01
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I can't see this being a huge loss, his form while injured has been too erratic
- Joe, Romford, 22/07/2009 15:34
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