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By
Rory Dollard, Press Association
08:02 EST, 30 May 2013
|
09:24 EST, 30 May 2013
England captain Alastair Cook has given an upbeat assessment of Kevin Pietersen’s ongoing rehabilitation.
Pietersen has not played competitively since a knee injury saw him sent home early from England’s tour of New Zealand in March.
He was subsequently ruled out of the return series on home turf, as well as the forthcoming Champions Trophy.
Lording it: Kevin Pietersen back at Lord’s following a net session with the England team
Having a laugh: Kevin Pietersen was in the thick of it at the England nets session
Back in the fold: Pietersen shares a joke with Jos Buttler
But he remains key to England’s Ashes
hopes and his comeback is being closely monitored, with Pietersen
meeting team director Andy Flower at Lord’s today.
He is also back in the nets and Cook believes the signs are good.
“It’s great news for England cricket to have him back playing again,” Cook told Sky Sports News.
“He’s practising first of all and it’s encouraging that he’s progressing well from that injury.
“Things are looking positive on that note and hopefully it’s not too long until he’s out in the middle.”
Greetings: Kevin Pietersen (left) shakes hands with Stuart Broad
Upbeat assessment: Alastair Cook (left), here with limited-overs coach Ashley Giles, says Pietersen’s recovery is going well
For now, though, Cook’s immediate
focus is on Friday’s first one-day international match against New
Zealand and the global tournament that follows.
“We’ve got three games here in this
very important series, then the Champions Trophy and we want to win as
many of those games as possible,” he said.
“Winning breeds confidence and any time you have recent success over an opposition you take confidence.
“It’s a really good test in our conditions.”
Eye on the ball: Pietersen bats in the nets at Lords
Net gains: Kevin Pietersen posted pictures of him practising on his own indoors
Surrey seamer Jade Dernbach has been added to England’s squad for the ODI series against New Zealand.
Dernbach will provide cover for
Yorkshire’s Tim Bresnan, whose wife is expected to give birth during the
three-match NatWest Series.
Bresnan has not played for England since January’s one-day series in India, after which he was sent for an elbow operation.
Cover: Jade Dernbach (left) has been called into the ODI squad to face New Zealand after Tim Bresnan pulled out
He has been back in action for
Yorkshire, but England will be hoping to see him in international action
before the start of the Champions Trophy.
England’s first game of the
tournament, against Sri Lanka in Cardiff, is just four days after their
final match against New Zealand.
As such, Dernbach – who is not part of the Champions Trophy squad – may be unlikely to play even if Bresnan is unavailable.
Instead, the likes of of Chris Woakes, Ravi Bopara and James Tredwell will all be angling for game time.
Flying start: Jos Buttler (second left) takes a catch during the practice session
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Good, the longer he is out the better. Morale in the dressing room is ultra high with KP out the way. Wer don’t need these me, me, me,,me players in the team, we need team men who are not selfish.
Mable Thorpe
,
Skegness, United Kingdom,
31/5/2013 11:35
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Great to see KP back.
DEVAN
,
Wembly,
30/5/2013 19:24
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Welcome back KP!
A-
,
Kampala,
30/5/2013 18:20
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