Pietersen out of remaining Ashes
Published:Wednesday | July 22, 2009 | 1:21 PM
England will have to try and regain the Ashes without Kevin Pietersen after the batsman was ruled out of the three remaining tests against Australia following surgery today for a chronic Achilles tendon injury.
Pietersen had tried to continue playing in discomfort, but doctors feared he was jeopardizing his long-term fitness. After being assessed by a specialist earlier today, Pietersen immediately had the operation.
He will be out for up to six weeks.
Pietersen has totaled 153 runs with a top score of 69 in the first two tests of the Ashes series, which England leads 1-0.
The South African-born player spent lengthy spells off the field in the second Test, which England won at Lord\'s.
Pietersen first experienced discomfort earlier this year and missed the one-day series against West Indies to recuperate. But the combination of rest and painkilling injections could not get him through the Ashes campaign.