Pietersen thwarted by rain as England suffer washout

After New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum sent England in, only two balls were bowled before the players were forced off for good.

There was still enough time for Michael Lumb to come and go, edging Mitchell McClenaghan to second slip, but that was the extent of the action as Pietersen was consigned to a watching brief in his first game in England colours for three months.

The result meant New Zealand claimed the series 1-0 after they won Tuesday’s opener by five runs.

Pietersen, who turned 33 yesterday, has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during the tour of New Zealand in March.

He had been drafted in for last night’s game – his only opportunity to face international opposition before the Ashes – after his stunning return to competitive action at the weekend.

Pietersen struck an unbeaten 177 for Surrey in their LV= County Championship match at Yorkshire to prove rustiness would not be a factor as he looks ahead to the first Test on July 10.

But, after being denied a hit last night, he will instead turn his focus to England’s four-day warm-up game against Essex, which begins on Sunday.

England had made two changes to their side with Eoin Morgan, who deputised as captain in Tuesday’s five-run loss, ruled out with a broken right finger.

An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesperson confirmed that Morgan would undergo an operation today on the problem.

Morgan suffered the injury during the Champions Trophy semi-final against South Africa on June 19 and had attempted to play through the pain.

His place was filled by Pietersen, with spinner Danny Briggs preferred ahead of Chris Woakes.

New Zealand named an unchanged side but it mattered not as they headed home with a Twenty20 success to go with the 2-1 one-day international series win they secured earlier this month.

Morgan indicated he could be back in action in a fortnight.

“It’s looking like an operation tomorrow (Friday) to try and get it pinned and ready as soon as possible,” he said.

“It can be as short as two to three (weeks out) and then ongoing from there.

“Obviously it will be closely monitored by our backroom staff, who have been exceptional, and hopefully I’ll get back to full fitness as soon as possible.”

Andrew Strauss is keeping his fingers crossed that England’s dressing room is united ahead of this summer’s Ashes series.

The former England captain is all too aware of how conflict can upset the balance of the dressing room, having led the side last year when Pietersen was axed from the set-up for allegedly sending derogatory messages about his international team-mates to some members of opponents South Africa’s squad.

While Strauss is not questioning his former team-mate’s talents, he hopes cracks in the team do not resurface in the intense pressure that Ashes series tend to bring. “Kevin is one of the best players I’ve ever seen,” Strauss said. “But I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes and I just hope everything in the team environment is fine. If it is fine then he should come back in straight away, no problems.

“But I do think you should never just assume that everything is okay, because in my experience if the team environment is not right it will come out at some point, usually under the greatest pressure.

“I’m sure everything’s fine, I’ve got no reason to doubt it is, but it’s still a consideration people have got to make.”

Ultimately Strauss is confident that his successor as captain, Alastair Cook, and team director Andy Flower will lead the England team with aplomb.

“When you’re managing a team the key is to find where those boundaries are, where you’re prepared to let people go, to what extent you’re allowing them to be a free spirit because ultimately it’s all got to be in the greater cause, which is making sure the team wins cricket games,” the former opener added.

“That’s a challenge for any leadership team and Andy Flower has been there long enough, Alastair Cook knows his mind pretty well and I’m sure they’ve got those boundaries in place.”

The Olympic Stadium could host a cricket festival after it is redeveloped in 2016.

Essex have held talks with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) about playing at the venue, which will have West Ham as the anchor tenant from 2016.

Essex chief executive Derek Bowden told BBC Essex: “I had a conversation with the LLDC a few weeks ago and they’re very keen for there to be a cricket festival.

“Not before 2016 because there is work to be done. But we’re keen to do it.”