Bairstow steps into breach as Pietersen pulls out

YORKSHIRE’S Jonny Bairstow is set to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen in the series-deciding third Test against New Zealand which begins tonight at Eden Park.
England's Jonny BairstowEngland's Jonny Bairstow
England's Jonny Bairstow

The Bradford-born 23-year-old has not played a Test since featuring in the series-levelling win against India in Mumbai in November.

Pietersen misses the final Test against New Zealand with a knee injury which may also sideline him from the return series in England.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Pietersen faces a “six-to-eight-week” rehabilitation period at best, and he and his advisers have already accepted he will, therefore, be absent as well from his planned Indian Premier League campaign with the Delhi Daredevils next month.

An England and Wales Cricket Board statement revealed that Pietersen, who has been complaining of pain in his right knee since before the start of the ongoing three-Test series against the Kiwis, may have “possible cartilage damage”.

The 32-year-old made a glorious return for England, after his summer of discontent and ‘reintegration’ in 2012, with a match-winning century in Mumbai on the way to a historic series success in India.

He has had less success with the bat in two drawn Tests in New Zealand this month, but did make a battling half-century in Wellington last week and will be seen as a pivotal presence in England’s year of back-to-back Ashes and a home Champions Trophy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Pietersen’s importance to home Ashes hopes are underlined by the career-best double-hundred he scored in Adelaide on the 2010-11 tour when England retained the urn in Australia – their first series win there in a quarter of a century.

Even the most optimistic reading of his injury prognosis gives him the tightest of schedules, however, to return in time for the first of two Tests against the Kiwis in May.

The ECB statement reads: “England and Surrey batsman Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the remaining Test against New Zealand due to an injury to his right knee.

“Pietersen experienced knee pain while fielding in preparation for the four-day game in Queenstown earlier this month, before the Test series. This has failed to resolve satisfactorily.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The ECB has neither ruled in nor out the possibility of surgery should the initial timetable of recovery prove optimistic.

Any operation would, of course, compromise Pietersen’s likely availability for both the mid-summer Champions Trophy and the Ashes beyond.

“Recent scans confirm an injury to the right knee, with bone bruising and possible cartilage damage to the kneecap,” the statement added.

“Pietersen will return to the UK for further investigations and specialist review.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The injury is likely to require ongoing assessments and a likely six-to-eight week period of rest and rehabilitation.

“Pietersen has, therefore, been withdrawn from all cricket, including the Indian Premier League.”

Pietersen, who was forced out mid-way through the Ashes series in 2009 with a career-threatening Achilles injury, was due to join the Daredevils after the tour of New Zealand, for the lucrative IPL season.

He is the second England player to fly out early from the New Zealand tour after an elbow injury forced spinner Graeme Swann home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Swann also aggravated his long-standing problem during the match at Queenstown and underwent successful surgery in the United States last week.

He is expected to return in time for the Champions Trophy in June.

England will be hoping that Bairstow, despite lack of match practice, can fill the void left by Pietersen with the series still 0-0 after two rain-affected stalemates.

The Yorkshire batsman has not played since the Twenty20 series earlier in the tour. His last Test appearance against India came when he stood in for Ian Bell, who went home for the birth of his child.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This will not be the first time Bairstow has replaced Pietersen in a Test line-up. He came in for the deciding match against South Africa at Lord’s last August following Pietersen’s dropping after the text-message controversy.

Baristow responded with scores of 95 and 54. In five Tests, he has scored 196 runs at 32.66.

He was selected for all three formats of the tour to New Zealand and was selected to play in the first Twenty20 match of the series but lost the wicketkeeping spot to Jos Buttler .

Bairstow was used as a specialist batsman coming in at No 5. He helped England to a 40-run win by smashing 38 runs off 22 balls in the first encounter but made only eight at No 4 as they lost the second by 55 runs.

Bairstow was not required to bat in England’s succesful run chase in the third game and was only 12th man for the three one-day internationals and the first Test.