Big Bash League: Dad-to-be Kevin Pietersen To Miss Clash vs Sydney Sixers

Big Bash League team Melbourne Stars will miss their star batsman Kevin Pietersen, who will be flying home for the birth of his second child. The former England batsman is likely to miss the December 27 clash versus Sydney Sixers and is expected back for the derby game versus Melbourne Renegades on January 2. (Ram Slam T20: Kevin Pietersen's South Africa Campaign Ends in Defeat, Titans Win Tournament)

 Pietersen, who was recently involved in a row with Qantas, will be with his wife Jessica Taylor during Christmas. He lambasted the airline company on Twitter for being "muppets", having been refused entry to the airline's lounge while in transit between South Africa and Melbourne due to the fact he was wearing thongs. (Kevin Pietersen Terms Australian Airline Qantas as 'Muppets')

 The 35-year-old Pietersen will play the Big Bash League matches against Adelaide and Sydney Thunder on Friday and Sunday before flying home. It was a somewhat similar story in 2010, when Pietersen flew back from the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean to be present at the birth of the couple's first child.

 Pietersen is coming off a solid Twenty20 stint in South Africa. Pietersen's KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins lost the final but he posted two centuries in the tournament, tallying 401 runs at an impressive average of 80.20.