Pietersen adds to England injury worries
Pietersen's big-hitting style has been a hit with fans
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Tuesday, 08, May 2007 10:25
Kevin Pietersen became the latest England batsman to fall victim to injury ahead of the side's first Test against the West Indies on May 17th.
The flamboyant star suffered a calf strain in Hampshire's one-day match against Ireland on Monday and has been withdrawn from domestic action on the advice of ECB medical staff.
The 26-year-old is the third-highest ranked Test batsman in the world and was one of very few players to emerge from this winter's Ashes tour with an improved reputation.
His Test average is currently 49.69 while he has also begun to contribute some gentle off-spin to the England bowling attack.
New coach Peter Moores has seen captain Michael Vaughan pick up a broken finger whilst on duty for Yorkshire while Somerset's Marcus Trescothick has ruled himself out of a return despite an unbeaten 185 last week.
England's centrally-contracted players have been given permission to turn out for their counties in an attempt to recover their form after a disappointing World Cup campaign.
Pietersen will be assessed again later this week with another MRI scan a possibility.