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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Pietersen suffers fractured rib | Pietersen suffers fractured rib |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| England batsman Kevin Pietersen will miss the rest of the one-day series in Australia after suffering a fractured rib in their opening game. | England batsman Kevin Pietersen will miss the rest of the one-day series in Australia after suffering a fractured rib in their opening game. |
| He was hit by a ball from Glenn McGrath as he advanced down the pitch during Friday's match in Melbourne and will be out for three to five weeks. | He was hit by a ball from Glenn McGrath as he advanced down the pitch during Friday's match in Melbourne and will be out for three to five weeks. |
| Pietersen continued his innings after treatment from team physio Dean Conway but was out soon after for 82. | Pietersen continued his innings after treatment from team physio Dean Conway but was out soon after for 82. |
| He was then sent to hospital for a scan which confirmed the fracture. | He was then sent to hospital for a scan which confirmed the fracture. |
| Interview: England batsman Kevin Pietersen | Interview: England batsman Kevin Pietersen |
| "I've never been hit so hard. I've been hit loads of times in the ribs but never so hard that I couldn't breathe," said Pietersen. | "I've never been hit so hard. I've been hit loads of times in the ribs but never so hard that I couldn't breathe," said Pietersen. |
| "I had got myself prepared for the one-day series and I was going to try my hardest to lift myself up to give the series a real run for its money. | "I had got myself prepared for the one-day series and I was going to try my hardest to lift myself up to give the series a real run for its money. |
| "I'm really down at the moment to be leaving Australia without a victory under our belt. Every single one of the guys is hurting but they will come our fighting." | "I'm really down at the moment to be leaving Australia without a victory under our belt. Every single one of the guys is hurting but they will come our fighting." |
| Losing Pietersen is a massive blow to England's chances of reaching the final of the triangular Commonwealth Bank Series, which also involves New Zealand. | Losing Pietersen is a massive blow to England's chances of reaching the final of the triangular Commonwealth Bank Series, which also involves New Zealand. |
| Prior to the game in Melbourne, Pietersen had scored 1,500 runs in 41 one-day games at an average of 55, and with a strike rate of 95 per 100 balls. | Prior to the game in Melbourne, Pietersen had scored 1,500 runs in 41 one-day games at an average of 55, and with a strike rate of 95 per 100 balls. |
| And the signs of damage were clear on Pietersen's torso | And the signs of damage were clear on Pietersen's torso |
| His tactic of going down the wicket to McGrath in order to try to prevent him settling on a consistent length was one which he tried during the Test series against Australia, but cost him his wicket in the first innings in the final Test in Sydney. | His tactic of going down the wicket to McGrath in order to try to prevent him settling on a consistent length was one which he tried during the Test series against Australia, but cost him his wicket in the first innings in the final Test in Sydney. |
| He tried it again as England looked to set the home side a challenging target at the MCG, but made no contact as he swung across the line and the ball struck him in the ribs. | |
| 606 DEBATE: Who should replace Pietersen? | 606 DEBATE: Who should replace Pietersen? |
| Pietersen, who was 73 not out at the time, immediately clutched his right side in agony, raising fears that the injury might be serious. | Pietersen, who was 73 not out at the time, immediately clutched his right side in agony, raising fears that the injury might be serious. |
| But the prognosis for his recovery means he should be fit in time for the World Cup, which begins in the Caribbean on 13 March. | But the prognosis for his recovery means he should be fit in time for the World Cup, which begins in the Caribbean on 13 March. |
| "I'll go home and get my fitness back as fast as I can and come back stronger for the bigger picture, which is the World Cup," he added. | "I'll go home and get my fitness back as fast as I can and come back stronger for the bigger picture, which is the World Cup," he added. |
| England now need to call up a replacement but when asked who he thought it should be, Pietersen replied: "I'm no selector. I'm just distraught to be going home." | England now need to call up a replacement but when asked who he thought it should be, Pietersen replied: "I'm no selector. I'm just distraught to be going home." |