Curse of the IPL? KP joins crock Freddie on England's injured list
Kevin Pietersen was yesterday ruled out of England’s one-day series against West Indies.
An achilles injury that flared up during the second Test means
Pietersen will miss the matches at Leeds, Bristol and Edgbaston over
the next six days. It is hoped he will be fit for the start of the
World Twenty20 on June 5.
Pietersen is the second England star who took part in the IPL to be ruled out of
international duty. Andrew Flintoff missed the Test series against West
Indies after flying back from the tournament with a knee injury.
Taking a back seat: Pietersen will miss the one-day series against West Indies
Pietersen said: ‘I hate missing out on playing for England but understand that this is necessary. I’ll be watching and supporting the team closely.’ His absence makes it more likely that Eoin Morgan, the Irishman named in an England squad for the first time, will be able to bring his unique brand of audacity to the middle order.
England's best batsman: Kevin Pietersen
Morgan,
22, played in the last World Cup for Ireland but has now completed his
four-year qualification period with Middlesex and is competing with the
returning Ian Bell for the final place in the England batting line-up
in place of Pietersen today at Headingley.
If his fantastic 161 against Kent in this season’s Friends Provident Trophy is anything
to go by, West Indies will have trouble setting a field for the
left-handed Morgan, whose batting style, full of reverse sweeps,
paddles and flicks, owes much to his formative
years in Ireland.
He said: ‘I read somewhere that whatever sport you play from the ages of about nine
to 12 you take with you and it was just a coincidence that I played hurling at school and
the natural grip is the reverse sweep.
‘It’s like a hockey stick only you use both sides of it. I’ve always looked to express
myself, especially in one-day cricket, and it’s something I’ll continue to do.’
Tricky customer: Morgan in action for Middlesex
Morgan is confident his experiences in the Caribbean two years ago with his home
nation, who he was allowed to play for while qualifying for England because they are an associate country, will stand him in good stead at the higher level.
‘Just watching teams like South Africa prepare for games can help you and I’m sure I’ve learned a lot with Ireland,’ said Morgan.
‘But everyone at home always knew the path I was going to take and when I made my
decision to play for England it was accepted straight away.’
Morgan’s former Ireland team-mates skittled Worcestershire for the lowest total in their one-day history as they knocked the Royals out of the Friends Provident Trophy at New Road yesterday.
The hosts had looked set to progress from Group A after dismissing Ireland for 152 but Peter Connell took five for 19 as Worcestershire were bowled out for just 58.
ENGLAND ONE-DAY v WEST INDIES:
Today: Headingley (10.45am)
Sunday: Bristol (10.45)
Tuesday: Edgbaston (10.45)
WORLD TWENTY20:
June 5: v Holland, Lord’s (5.30pm)
June 7: v Pakistan, The Brit Oval, (5.30) (Group fixtures only)
ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA (TWENTY20):
August 30: Old Trafford (2.30)
September 1: Old Trafford (7.0)
ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA (ONE DAY):
September 4: The Brit Oval (2.30)
September 6: Lord’s, (11.0)
September 9: Rose Bowl (2.30)
September 12: Lord’s (11.0)
September 15: Trent Bridge (2.30)
September 17: Trent Bridge (2.30)
September 20: Riverside (11.0)
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