Miller defends KP's IPL decision
Chief selector Geoff Miller defends KP's IPL decision
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By Adam Leveridge. |  |
Sunday, 26, Jul 2009 10:55
By Huw Davies.
National selector for the England cricket team Geoff Miller has defended Kevin Pietersen's controversial decision to play in the Indian Premier League, saying his injury could have come at any time.
Pietersen came under some criticism for putting his body under too much pressure by playing more cricket than it could handle.
When he withdrew from the rest of this year's Ashes series with an Achilles injury, the IPL took the brunt of the blame. But Miller has insisted no one was at fault.
"It's a consistent problem," said Miller. "It could be argued it's the same with Andrew [Flintoff] as well. This injury could have happened at any stage - it's not something sorted by the IPL. It could have happened for England, it could have happened for Hampshire, and similarly for Andrew with Lancashire and England. It's happened and we've got to get on with it."
Pietersen seems to be making good progress, and could even return for the one-day international series against Australia, starting on August 30th.
"I talked to Kevin the other day and he was really buoyant," continued Miller. "Obviously he'd got that problem and he wasn't playing like he could play. We knew that - you could see it. But he's had the operation and he's buoyant he'll be back as soon as possible, and that could be for the one-dayers - we don't know yet.
"We'll monitor it. We'll not rush into it, and just make sure it's when he's ready."