MELBOURNE, Jan 12: England batsman Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the rest of the one-day tri-series after breaking a rib when he was struck by a Glenn McGrath delivery in the first match against Australia here on Friday.

The South African-born batsman is to return home after he received an agonising blow from the Australian paceman.

The injury will take between three and five weeks to heal and the England management have opted to ensure he recovers in time for the World Cup campaign in the West Indies.

“I'm distraught to be leaving the trip without any victories,” Pietersen said. “I'll be getting myself as fit as I can, I've never played at a World Cup before and I will be in the Caribbean if selected.”

Charging down the wicket to McGrath, Pietersen was on 73 when he collapsed to the floor in agony after the blow to his right side. He needed several minutes to compose himself.

Despite treatment, he was in clear pain for the remainder of his innings before finally holing out to long-on for a defiant 82 .

The 26-year-old had been England's standout player during the Ashes defeat, scoring 490 runs at 54.44, and again on Friday showed why he is such a feared one-day batsman.

He swiped Cameron White for three big sixes in his entertaining knock before the blow from McGrath. Pietersen said: “It was extremely sore, still is, and I knew something was wrong pretty quickly. But I am a quick healer and I'll be chomping at the bit to get to the Caribbean.”—Reuters