MIKE HUSSEY believes the loss of Kevin Pietersen is a major blow to England’s Ashes chances. Hussey, who leads his country in a three-day match against his old county Northamptonshire today, thinks the absence of key batsman Pietersen with an Achiles injury for the rest of the series is a major boost for Australia after going 1-0 down in the series at Lord’s.
Three Tests remain for the tourists to turn the series around and Hussey said: ‘It’s going to be a big loss to England – Pietersen has obviously been a quality batsman for a long period of time. ‘They’re definitely going to miss him. It is a boost for us. He’s played well for a long time, and done it against Australia, and is probably the lynchpin of that batting order.’ The anticipated return of Ian Bell to fill the Pietersen role is an underwhelming prospect to some – but not Hussey.
‘They’ve got some pretty good replacements,’ he added. ‘Bell is a quality player, who has played very well for England before. We’re going to give him the same respect we give all the England batsmen.’ Australia themselves have form as well as fitness concerns to address before Edgbaston.
Fast bowler Brett Lee is unlikely to return from a side strain in time while seamer Stuart Clark and all-rounder Shane Watson hope to come in for out-of-form paceman Mitchell Johnson.
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