It shows how unfair and glib the English media were being when they criticised Pietersen over the manner of his dismissal in the first innings of the first test (just four innings ago); he top-scored but copped a lot of flak for the manner of his dismissal. That it has now emerged his injury was behind what was ultimately just a bit of a flakey shot in that innings, should make those so eager to shoot him down for that (despite his being the top scorer) embarrassed. He has been increasingly hampered in his last games for England but whatever his being England’s best batsmen, the media were all too eager to have a pop when he only scored 70 in the first innings at Cardiff.

In fact, the English media having a go at Pietersen was a case of them committing the cardinal sin of sledging someone fully behind the English cause, and one our best hopes if we wanted to win the Ashes. In doing that, the English media were performing the Aussies’ job for them! The English media should remember whose side they are on: it is not their job to do Ponting’s work for him and try and undermine one of our best players. Congratulations the English media for being so small-minded (…and for being so typically English in this, just look at the flak they give our football team whenever the media’s over-high expectations are not met…).

Come back fit KP – and just block out the blinkered thinking of the critics: it’s how you became England’s best batsman in the first place.