Pietersen suffers fresh Achilles setback
ENGLAND batsman Kevin Pietersen’s place in the squad for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy is in doubt after he suffered a setback in his recovery from Achilles surgery.
Pietersen, 29, has had hospital treatment after an infection developed in the stitching of his scar tissue, it emerged yesterday.
The Hampshire player was ruled out of the rest of the Ashes series after going under the knife following England’s victory in the second Test last month.
England chiefs initially estimated his recovery period to be around six weeks, but the latest development in an injury saga that has blighted his year could mean he is sidelined for longer.
Pietersen first suffered problems with his Achilles during the winter tour of the Caribbean, and he aggravated it while playing for Bangalore Royal Challengers at the Indian Premier League in April.
That forced him to miss England’s one-day series against the West Indies and limited his participation in the Twenty20 World Cup that followed.
With the aid of injections, he played in the first two Ashes Tests, averaging 38.25 in four innings as England drew with Australia in Cardiff and then won at Lord’s.
Meanwhile, England spinner Graeme Swann sat out Nottingham-shire’s County Championship clash with Warwickshire at Trent Bridge yesterday with a stomach upset.
Swann was one of five England players released to return to their counties following the fourth Ashes Test disaster at Headingley.
Warwickshire batsmen Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott will get their chance to get among the runs today as should Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara for Essex against Middlesex at Lord’s.