MUMBAI, (Reuters) – England’s most dangerous batsman Kevin Pietersen is struggling with a hernia which needs an operation after the World Cup, another blow to their faltering campaign in the tournament.
The England Cricket Board (ECB) stressed that Pietersen, 30, will soldier on in the sub-continent but a medical report has shown that his condition is worsening.
“As the symptoms have been getting worse… the appropriate course of action is for Kevin to undergo a routine operation upon his return to the UK after England’s World Cup campaign,” ECB chief medical officer Nicholas Peirce said in a statement.
Pietersen has yet to fire on all cylinders for his country in the tournament as a win over Netherlands was followed by a tied result with co-hosts India and a shock defeat by Ireland on Wednesday.
“I’m obviously extremely disappointed to have picked up this hernia injury but I’ve been able to manage it so far throughout the World Cup and will continue to do so under the guidance of the England team’s medical staff,” Pietersen was quoted as saying in the statement.
“It will no doubt impact my preparation but careful management should see me still play a significant role in the team’s campaign.
“Representing England in a World Cup is something I’ve been looking forward to for the past four years and I’m excited by the prospect of helping the team achieve something special here on the sub-continent against the best teams in the world.”
So far, Pietersen has scored 39 against the Netherlands, 31 against India and 59 in the defeat by Ireland.
Peirce continued: “Kevin will continue to be managed throughout the World Cup and we would expect him to make a full recovery following a recuperation and rehabilitation period of approximately six weeks after the operation.”
Pietersen was slated to play in a domestic Twenty20 competition in India after the Feb 19-April 2 tournament but will now not be fit until the English cricket season when Sri Lanka and India will be the touring teams.
To date, 12 players have been forced out of the World Cup through injury.
England play their next match against South Africa — the country of Pietersen’s birth — on Sunday in Chennai in Group B.