Kevin Pietersen ruled out of World Cup
March 7th, 2011 - 8:58 pm ICT by IANSChennai, March 7 (IANS) England’s star batsman Kevin Pietersen’s World Cup dream was shattered as he is flying back home midway through the tournament for hernia surgery.
Pietersen’s hernia problem surfaced during the tournament, but England’s medical team thought the surgery could be postponed till after the World Cup.
Pietersen was however struggling in the match against South Africa which England won by six runs. A re-look by the medical team indicated that the surgery need to be done immediately to avoid further complications.
“I fly home tonight. Out of the WC (World Cup) and IPL (Indian Premier League). Sad to leave India. Love the people & the hospitality. Absolutely devastated!!” Pietersen posted on Twitter.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said they have asked for exciting batsman Eoin Morgan as a replacement.
England team director Andy Flower said the team was losing an important player in Pietersen, who was promoted to open the batting, where he was doing a good job.
“He’s a world-class player,” Sky Sports News quoted Flower as saying.
“I thought he was forming an interesting opening partnership with Andrew Strauss. In three of the four games they’ve played together they have looked good up front and they put on significant partnerships that have kicked off good batting performances.”
England are awaiting the approval of replacement by International Cricket Council.
Morgan was included in the original World Cup squad but missed out after breaking a finger in the build-up to the tournament.
“We’re moving on now and Eoin Morgan is an exciting cricketer. It’s going to be good to have him back,” said Flower.
Flower said Pietersen had been struggling with the injury for some time but remains hopeful that he will return in time for a busy summer.
“He’s got a problem and I’ve seen the scan myself. It’s a problem that he has been dealing with for a number of weeks now so he has got to go and get that sorted out and hopefully he will be ready for the first Test against Sri Lanka in the English summer.”
- Pietersen out with injury, Morgan is replacement (Lead) - Mar 07, 2011
- Morgan all set to replace Pietersen in England team - Mar 07, 2011
- ICC approves Morgan as Pietersen's replacement - Mar 08, 2011
- Pietersen to leave World Cup early for hernia operation - Mar 07, 2011
- Bangladesh spinners restrict England to 225/8 (Lead) - Mar 11, 2011
- Flower surprised over Pietersen's departure from World Cup - Mar 08, 2011
- England suffer shocking two-wicket defeat against Bangladesh (Roundup) - Mar 12, 2011
- Bopara named as injured Morgan's replacement in England World Cup squad - Feb 09, 2011
- Flower guarded over England's new opener for World Cup - Mar 09, 2011
- Bangladesh hold nerves for shock two-wicket defeat of England (Intro Roundup) - Mar 12, 2011
- Morgan's 'quicker than expected' return to cricket leaves England camp 'red faced' - Feb 15, 2011
- Prior is surprise inclusion in England's World Cup squad - Jan 19, 2011
- Panesar, Davies return to England squad - Dec 09, 2011
- Injury-hit England have much to ponder over fitness (Team Profile, World Cup Countdown) - Feb 09, 2011
- England's Eoin Morgan ruled out of World Cup - Feb 09, 2011
Tags: andrew strauss, andy flower, cricketer, ecb, england and wales cricket board, england team, flower flower, four games, hopefull, international cricket council, ipl, kevin pietersen, medical team, sky sports, sky sports news, star batsman, team director, wales cricket board, world cup dream, world cup squad