Injury-hit Pietersen out of final NZ Test, IPL

England batsman Kevin Pietersen will miss the last Test against New Zealand and the Indian Premier League due to a knee injury which may sideline him for up to eight weeks, officials said Wednesday. 

"The injury is likely to require ongoing assessments and a likely 6-8 week period of rest and rehabilitation," the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement, two days before the start of the series-deciding game. 

The ECB said the 32-year-old suffered pain in his right knee while fielding earlier this month in preparation for a warm-up game in New Zealand, before the Test series began. 

"This has failed to resolve satisfactorily," it said. 

Recent scans confirmed bone bruising and possible cartilage damage to the kneecap, and Pietersen would return to Britain "for further investigations and specialist review". 

He had been withdrawn from all cricket including the Indian Premier League, it said. 

New Zealand will eye a rare series win and England will try to cement their position as the number-two Test nation in the third and final Test starting Friday in Auckland, following rain-affected draws in the first two games. 

Source :- http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/54808/injury-hit-pietersen-out-of-final-nz-test-ipl