Pietersen out of the World Cup - will England care?

Kevin Pietersen will play no further part in the World Cup after it was disclosed that his hernia required immediate surgery. Though Pietersen has known of the condition for several weeks, he declared himself fit enough to open the batting for England in the World Cup. But the hernia has got worse in recent days and it was obvious the 30-year-old was in pain during England's dramatic win against South Africa on Sunday, prompting England coach Andy Flower to announce that Pietersen is returning home for an operation.

"We hoped that he would get through the tournament OK, take pain killers when needed and bite the bullet," said Flower. "Unfortunately he says that the pain is too debilitating and he can't go on like that... so he has got to go and get that sorted out and hopefully he will be ready for the first Test against Sri Lanka in the English summer. We're moving on now."

Pietersen used Twitter to express his disappointment at the turn of events, commenting just after the official announcement was made: "Absolutely devastated!! Sad to leave India. Love the people & the hospitality!"

Devastated though Pietersen might be, the news of his departure from the England camp isn't the disaster it once might have been. It's well over two years since the South African-born batsman last scored a century in a one-day international and in that same period Pietersen has managed only two half-centuries as his ODI average slumped to just 23.11.

Pietersen showed the odd flash of brilliance during the 2011 World Cup, hitting a quickfire 31 against India in the tied match and cracking 59 off 50 balls against Ireland, but he's not the destructive matchwinner that he was in the seasons after he made his ODI debut in 2004. Then he needed just 21 matches to reach 1000 one-day runs, equalling the record set by the legendary West Indian Viv Richards, but his powers have waned in recent years with his susceptibility to left-arm spin being a particular source of concern.

Pietersen's replacement, however, is 24-year-old Eoin Morgan, a man capable of laying waste to even the most potent of bowling attacks when the mood takes him. The Irish-born batsman averages 38 in his 61 ODI and has four hundreds and 10 fifties to his name. Initially he was ruled out of the tournament with a broken finger but he's recovered well from the setback and has been drafted into the squad. "Eoin Morgan is an exciting cricketer, it's going to be good to have him back," said Andy Flower. "His finger has healed nicely and he has full flexibility back into the joint," said Andy Flower, adding: "He hasn't done any training yet, so we'll get him straight into the nets and up to speed as well as we can."

England play Bangladesh on Friday and will be guaranteed a place in the World Cup quarter-finals if they win. Pietersen meanwhile is expected to be out for six weeks following the operation, forcing him to withdraw from the lucrative Indian Premier League competition in which he had been scheduled to play for the Deccan Chargers. ·