Kevin Pietersen ruled out of Ashes, exposing England’s Achilles heel

Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the 2009 Ashes series after undergoing surgery on his Achilles tendon, dealing a blow to an England side which was cock-a-hoop after going 1-0 up after the Lord’s test.

“The operation involved a small incision and trimming of the blood vessels and nerves around the inflamed tendon and appears, at this early stage, to have been routine,” said the England Cricket Board’s chief medical officer, Nick Peirce, confirming that Pietersen would be out for an expected six weeks.

Pietersen’s lower order batting replacement is likely to be Ian Bell, an accomplished Test batsman who nonetheless has struggled at times in comparison to Pietersen. Bell’s Ashes run total is 502 at an average of 25.1 from 20 innings, including four ducks and only nine innings in double figures with six 50s. After his 32 and 44 at Lord’s, Pietersen’s numbers against Australia are 1116 runs at 50.7 from 24 innings with seven 50s and two centuries.

Meanwhile, Australia is looking likely to bring in Shane Watson for Marcus North to bolster their bowling stocks, pending the form lines from this week’s tour match.