There was no attempt to don a shirt and join in the celebrations, a la John Terry, but the arrival of Kevin Pietersen at Lord’s as the first Test against New Zealand was being spectacularly concluded was a reminder of what England are missing.
There is no question that England are weaker for Pietersen’s prolonged absence, as two batting collapses at Lord’s testify, and the importance of getting him fit in time for the first Ashes Test on July 10 is paramount.
Surrey are still optimistic that Pietersen’s knee injury will heal in time for their championship match against Sussex at Arundel on June 12, a target which should give him three first-class games ahead of the Ashes.
But the decision on when Pietersen will return will ultimately be down to England and they continue to urge caution, even though the bone bruising that forced him home early from the New Zealand tour has not required surgery.
David Saker, basking in the bowling performances of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad that gave England a 170-run victory, yesterday became the first England coach to say that Pietersen might not be ready for the big day at Trent Bridge.
‘We are all hopeful he will be back for the Ashes but we are not sure about that,’ said England’s fast-bowling coach. ‘The medical staff are on top of it. I asked him if he felt he would be all right in time and he thinks he will.
‘It was probably the only answer he could give. Until he knows he can run around without it flaring up he can’t really give an answer. He was really excited about being ready for the Ashes but he cannot be sure.’
Cleaned up: Stuart Broad gets out Bruce Martin, the seventh victim in his career-best figures Head-to-headNick Compton
Tests: 8Runs: 471High score: 117Average: 36.23
In his last two Tests, opener Compton has scored just 46 runs at an average of 11.5.
Jonny Bairstow
Tests: 7Runs: 251High score: 95Average: 25.10
Middle-order star Bairstow has failed to make double figures in six of his 11 Test innings.
In truth, it will still be a major surprise if Pietersen, whose Achilles injury ruled him out of the bulk of the last home Ashes, does not make it.
And that would be a huge relief for England as question marks remain over a batting line-up that looked fragile in the face of an impressive Kiwi attack.
Today England will name the same 12 for Friday’s second Test at Headingley, with Ian Bell and Graeme Swann expected to be included despite suffering from illness during the Lord’s Test, but two batsmen, Nick Compton and Jonny Bairstow, approach it knowing one of them will not be at Trent Bridge in July should Pietersen come through unscathed.
Compton looked guaranteed an Ashes berth when he scored centuries in consecutive Tests in Dunedin and Wellington but his failures since, notably the two at Lord’s, have once again demonstrated what an intense character he is, and he will be fretting in the build-up to Friday.
On borrowed time: Nick Compton (left) and Jonny Bairstow are both fighting for a single Ashes placeThere is no doubt that Joe Root who, in contrast, entered Lord’s for the first time as a player with a big grin on his face, will be promoted to opener at some stage, but whether that is sooner rather than later depends on Compton.
Bairstow, a more naturally gifted player, remains the man most under threat as his travails over the winter were followed by a disappointing first Test, even though he was unlucky to run out of partners in the first innings.
The Headingley pitch has been flat this season, and even though overhead conditions usually dictate how it plays, Bairstow will hope that his home ground will provide the comfort he needs to kick-start his career.
However, England would rather see Pietersen walking out to face an Australia attack which should be superior to New Zealand’s.
Top class: Kevin Pietersen is still currently ranked the 12th best batsmen in the worldPietersen again showed a lack of self-awareness when he tweeted a picture of himself enjoying the delights of Dubai on the morning his team-mates took on New Zealand without him, but Saker insisted he was a welcome figure when he turned up on Sunday.
‘It was good to see him in the dressing room and he was mixing with the guys,’ said the Australian.
'Sometimes when players are injured or out of the team they find it hard to mix because they are not sure they should be in the dressing room. It was great to see him there supporting the lads.’
New Zealand, meanwhile, have fitness concerns over BJ Watling and Bruce Martin, with the left-arm spinner struggling to play any further part on tour. In his absence the Kiwis have brought forward the arrival of Dan Vettori, who could play in his first Test in more than a year after injury.
Otherwise Doug Bracewell could play in a four-man seam attack. Brendon McCullum may have to take the gloves if Watling is unfit and Martin Guptill is poised to strengthen a batting line-up which was skittled on Sunday.
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