Pietersen suffers Achilles surgery setback

London:

Kevin Pietersen has suffered complications following last month's Achilles surgery with the England batsman having to return to hospital after developing an infection in the scar tissue.

Pietersen, 29, underwent an operation after just two Tests of the Ashes series against Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) estimated him to be out for around six weeks.

The injury first flared during England's tour of the Caribbean last winter and after hobbling through matches at Cardiff and Lord's thanks to painkilling injections, South African-born 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 in action for some of the one-day series against Australia in September.

"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 programme 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."

Some had questioned that optimistic prediction of absence, however, and today's news may have jeopardised the length of recuperation time.