When is the last and final match of ipl 2009?

Will England be able to fill the Pietersen one day match void?

• England's Kevin Pietersen to miss one-dayers against Australia From Malcolm Conn in Leeds, England August 13, 2009 Kevin Pietersen's hopes of returning to play against Australia in the one-day series have been dashed after he suffered a setback with his recovery from achilles tendon surgery. The injury first flared during England's tour of the Caribbean early this year and after hobbling through the first two Ashes Tests at Cardiff and Lord's with the help of pain-killing injections, Pietersen was forced to see a specialist. An immediate decision to operate was taken on July 22 in a bid to get the former England captain back for the seven-match one-day series. However, Pietersen was forced to return to hospital after experiencing complications. "He was seen by a wound-care specialist and will receive a course of antibiotics in order to exclude infection," an England and Wales Cricket Board statement said. "Medical advice is that a complication can occur post-surgery and in this case resulted despite Kevin closely following specialist advice on management of the wound." The ongoing problems with Pietersen's injury raise more questions about the folly of England's best two players, Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, being allowed to play in the IPL last April. Pietersen aggravated his injury during the tournament while Flintoff broke down with a knee injury. Ongoing problems have forced the pivotal all-rounder to retire from Test cricket. He was controversially overlooked for the fourth Test at Headingley, which Australia won by an innings and 80 runs inside three days. However, he has been cleared by his surgeon to make a final Test appearance at The Oval in the fifth and final Test, beginning next Thursday. The cricket board played down Pietersen's operation at the time. "The operation involved a small incision and trimming of the blood vessels and nerves around the inflamed tendon and appears, at this early stage, to have been routine," Nick Peirce, the ECB's chief medical officer, said at the time. "Kevin will look to undertake a comprehensive rehabilitation program to ensure there is no risk of recurrence. This is expected to be approximately six weeks but will be taken at an appropriate pace following constant review." The original six-week timetable now appears optimistic.

• Answer:

  The Poms would have been fools to expect a fully fit KP for the 1 day series. Give the guy a long needed rest, then watch him come back better than ever.