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| Bopara replaces injured Pietersen | Bopara replaces injured Pietersen |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Essex's Ravi Bopara has been called up to the England squad to replace Kevin Pietersen who broke a rib on Friday. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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." |
| 606 DEBATE: Your thoughts on Bopara | |
| 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. | 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. |
| I am a pretty quick healer so I will get myself as fit as I can as quick as I can Kevin Pietersen | I am a pretty quick healer so I will get myself as fit as I can as quick as I can Kevin Pietersen |
| Pietersen will fly home early next week after his missed pull at Glenn McGrath left him with a broken rib. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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'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." | "It would have been different playing against him and it's obviously a huge blow for the tournament and England." |