The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
England set to explore cover options for Pietersen
ENGLA ND MUST explore contingency plans to cover for Kevin Pietersen in case his sore calf rules him out of their bid to clinch theA shes at OldTrafford next week.
A lastair Cook’s team are on the verge of winning the urn for a third successive time — something last achieved by England more than 30 years ago— after their 347-run trouncing ofA ustralia at Lord’s on Sunday.
That resounding success was completed in the absence of the injured Pietersen, off the field during the tourists’ second innings after a scan revealed he had strained his left calf.
He is considered doubtful already for the third InvestecTest in Manchester.
Unfortunate history is therefore threatening to repeat itself for Pietersen, who also missed the final three matches of England’s last surge to home A shes series victory with anA chilles injury in 2009.
England batting coach Graham Gooch is not prepared, and unqualified he insists too, to publicly discuss the potential replacements for Pietersen— who had a lean time in England’s middle order at Lord’s, where he made only seven runs in his two innings.
“I know he’s got a problem with his calf, a strain,” said Gooch.
“Whether he will be fit for OldTrafford ... he’d be in doubt. I’m sure there will be some cover supplied.”
The potential replacement personnel remains open to conjecture, with several plausible candidates but none presenting an obviously compelling case.
A mong the feasible contenders, Nick Compton is the one who most recently inhabited an England batting position — but that was as a specialist opener before he was dropped in favour of Joe Root, whose second-innings 180 helped England into their 2-0 lead.
Speaking specifically about Compton, Gooch said: “I’m not a selector, so I couldn’t give you an indication to whether he would be the next cab off the rank or not.”
Unlike others, the Somerset opener has not been seen around the England team on practice days.
A clutch of others have, and Gooch implicitly acknowledges the significance.
“We’re looking not just at the players we’ve got but also the ones coming through.
“We introduce them to the other players, and try to prepare them a little bit for maybe if an opportunity comes.”
A case in point is Root, who made his Test debut in the middle order only seven months ago after appearing to be a back-up opener behind Compton and captain A lastair Cook in India.
The 22-year-old has made giant strides since, and Gooch is one of many impressed by the young Yorkshireman’s technique and attitude.
“For every country in the world, sometimes players get thrown up who are not only skilful, have good disciplines and good habits but are very mature characters for young men,” said the ex-England captain and record first-class run scorer.
“I think from the first time we all experienced Joe in India, a few months back, it was quite evident that this lad was very mature mentally, had a good work ethic and was very keen to learn.
Meanwhile A ustralia bowler James Pattinson will play no further part in the A shes series, Cricket A ustralia has confirmed. Pattinson was diagnosed with a stress fracture of his lower back following the conclusion to the secondTest defeat and will return home to A ustralia after the third Test at OldTrafford.