A knee injury to England’s Kevin Pietersen shouldn’t stop him playing in the second Test against New Zealand.
There were fears that a knee injury that saw England talisman Kevin Pietersen miss over an hour-and-a-half of play in the first Test would put him out of the second, but it now seems that the batsman is all but cleared to play in the second Test on Wednesday, after taking part in practice with the rest of his team.
Pietersen injured his right knee whilst fielding in the first Test at Dunedin – a match that England managed to draw despite a poor first innings total of 167 all-out.
Yet the South African-born cricketer has taken part in England’s training session a day before the opener – although his right knee was heavily strapped.
Pietersen will be looking to improve on his performance in the first Test if he does indeed play at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old was bowled out for a first-ball duck in the first innings and managed just 12 runs in the second, bowled out by Black Caps seamer Nick Wagner on both occasions.
The rest of the England top order gave a more solid display in the second innings, with openers Alastair Cook and Nick Compton making centuries and Jonathan Trott scoring 54. There was also a surprising half century from night watchman Steven Finn, who after four-and-a-half hours at the crease was eventually out for 56.
England coach Andy Flower had said yesterday that Pietersen’s injury was just something that all players have to play through most of the time.
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