Bopara replaces injured Pietersen

Essex's Ravi Bopara has been called up to the England squad to replace Kevin Pietersen who broke a rib on Friday.
Bopara has also been named in England's provisional 30-man World Cup squad announced on Saturday.

The 21-year-old has been called up for his batting ability but is also a capable medium-pace bowler.

"Ravi has been brought in because he is a middle-order batsman who impressed with the academy this winter," said chairman of selectors David Graveney.

"He has been a regular with Essex and during their one-day successes of recent years and we decided that he was the best option available."

Ed Joyce is the favourite to take Pietersen's place in the England starting XI for the next match, against New Zealand in Hobart on Tuesday.

Pietersen will fly home early next week after his missed pull at Glenn McGrath left him with a broken rib.

The injury rules him out of the one-day Commonwealth Bank Series against Australia and New Zealand, but he is expected to return in five weeks and should be fit for the World Cup in March.

Pietersen said: "I am a pretty quick healer so I will get myself as fit as I can as quick as I can.

"I am champing at the bit to get out to the Caribbean."

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said Pietersen's absence would weaken England over the next few weeks.

"It's disappointing in a weird way, a sad way because the majority of the team liked watching him bat," Fleming said.

"It would have been different playing against him and it's obviously a huge blow for the tournament and England."