Knee Injury Rules Pietersen Out Of Final Test, IPL 2013

Knee Injury Rules Pietersen Out Of Final Test, IPL

Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the final Test and the Indian Premier League due to a knee injury

©REUTERS / Action Images

Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of England's decisive third and final Test against New Zealand after suffering an injury to his right knee.

The problem has developed since arrival in New Zealand and he is now going to miss the Indian Premier League as a result.

Scans indicated that he has bone bruising and possible cartilage damage to his right kneecap and Pietersen, 32, will now return home for further tests and examination.

He is then expected to be sidelined for between six and eight weeks, hence the decision to withdraw him from the IPL, where he would have been playing for the Delhi Daredevils.

Pietersen hit 73 in the drawn second Test in Wellington having made just 12 runs in total in the opening match in Dunedin, which was also drawn.

In 94 Tests for England since his debut against Australia in 2005, Pietersen has scored 7,499 runs with 22 centuries at an average of 49.01.

The two-month period out of the game means he may face a battle to be fit for New Zealand's series in England in May but should be fit for the Champions Trophy and the Ashes which begin in June and July respectively.

The final Test between New Zealand and England begins on Friday (22nd March) in Auckland.

© Cricket World 2013