Cricket: Pietersen progress sparks batting battle

Captain Alastair Cook believes the spectre of Kevin Pietersen’s return will create healthy competition in England’s batting line-up during the second Investec Test against New Zealand.

Pietersen is currently on the sidelines with a troublesome knee injury that will also keep him out of next month’s Champions Trophy. But England are confident the batsman will be back in time for the Ashes. That means one of the current incumbents – probably Jonny Bairstow but possibly Nick Compton – will have to give way.

Cook accepts that there is no realistic chance of England overlooking a fit Pietersen, meaning today’s Test at Headingley is the final chance for the unestablished players to press their case. “I think we all know when hopefully Kevin comes back and he’s fit, his record and his class pretty much demands that he plays for England,” said Cook. “His record allows him to do that. So, of course, that creates competition for places and the guys in the changing room will be desperate to score runs. That’s good for us in this game because we need as many runs as we can.

“If any batter scores runs it’s very hard to leave him out. That’s how selection works. I don’t think it will give them any extra motivation because I don’t think you need any extra motivation when you’re playing for England, but we all know that’s the situation.”

Cook was also able to offer a brief update on Pietersen’s rehabilitation. He added: “Kevin’s progressing well from his injury. There is obviously some more information coming over the next couple of weeks but, chatting to him last week at Lord’s, he sounded positive, and it’s fingers crossed. With injuries you’re not quite sure how they’re healing but it sounded as if he was making good progress.”

England go into the match 1-0 up in a two-game series and looking for another victory to weigh against three draws in the reverse series earlier this year.

Black Caps spinner and former skipper Daniel Vettori has ruled himself out, ensuring the tourists will take on England with an all-pace attack. Vettori’s decision to put the team first rather than play a 112th Test and become the sole New Zealand record-holder for caps, means fast bowler Doug Bracewell will complement a seam attack of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner. “It’s a gamble but, when you’re 1-0 down, you’ve got to take it,” said Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum.

He will keep wicket for the first time in nearly three years, taking over from the injured BJ Watling. McCullum stressed it was a one-off situation, and is hoping to manage the back complaint which forced him to drop the gloves in 2010. With Martin Guptill taking Watling’s place in the line-up, the usual opener will bat at No 6, followed by 
McCullum.

New Zealand had hoped that, when Vettori joined them on Tuesday for the coming one-day series, that he could replace the injured Bruce Martin. But Vettori’s fitness came up short. He hasn’t played a Test since July, missing the tour of South Africa with an Achilles’ complaint and the home series against England with ankle tendinitis. Lately, he was merely a net bowler in the 
Indian Premier League.

“He’s not quite confident he’ll be able to get through five days and didn’t want to let the team down,” McCullum said.

l PAKISTANI umpire Asad Rauf has been withdrawn from next month’s Champions Trophy by the International Cricket Council following media reports that he was under investigation by Mumbai Police. Rauf, who has been on the ICC Elite Panel since 2006, was due to officiate with seven other umpires at the tournament, which will be held at Edgbaston, Cardiff and the Oval from 6 June. But, following the reports in the media, the ICC has opted to stand him down.

ICC chief executive David 
Richardson said: “In the wake of reports that the Mumbai Police are conducting an investigation into Asad Rauf’s activities, we feel that it is in Asad’s best interests, as well as those of the sport and the event itself, that he is withdrawn from participating in the ICC Champions Trophy.”