Thursday 25 April 2013 17:25, UK
Kevin Pietersen is 11/4 with Sky Bet to miss the first Ashes Test after another injury setback.
Kevin Pietersen is 11/4 with Sky Bet to miss the first Ashes Test after another setback on the road to recovery from a knee injury. The England batsman was ruled out of June's ICC Champions Trophy on Wednesday, raising further concerns as to whether he will be fit in time for the Ashes opener at Trent Bridge on July 10. Pietersen suffered the injury on the tour of New Zealand and was quickly ruled out of the return series with the Black Caps and also the one-day series, which starts next month. The England and Wales Cricket Board have now confirmed the former England skipper will now miss the Champions Trophy but should resume full training by the middle of June. Sky Bet have reacted by making the 32-year-old 11/4 to miss the 1st Test at Nottingham and 1/4 on to start the match. Sky Bet Head of Cricket, Jon Hesford said: "The injury is obviously a little more serious than was first thought and fears are growing about his Ashes fitness. "We're currently odds-on he'll recover in time for the 1st Test but this is another worrying blow." The online betting firm go 1/6 that Yorkshire's Joe Root will play at Trent Bridge with county team-mate Jonny Bairstow an 11/4 shot.
