England's Pietersen ruled out of Champions Trophy

LONDON (Reuters) - England batsman Kevin Pietersen will not be ready for the one-day series with New Zealand and June's Champions Trophy after a further scan on his injured knee on Wednesday, fuelling speculation he could be an Ashes doubt.

"Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy following a repeat MRI scan on his right knee earlier today," the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement, adding he would also skip the New Zealand one-dayers which precede the tournament.

The 32-year-old had already been told he would miss the two-match test series against New Zealand next month because of the injury.

He suffered the knee problem during fielding practice in the away series in New Zealand last month and was unable to play in the third and final test.

The home five-test Ashes series against Australia starts in Nottingham on July 10 with the Champions Trophy one-day tournament taking place from June 6-23, also in England.

Pietersen remains England's most explosive batsman and any sign he will miss all or part of the Ashes offers encouragement to Australia, who named their squad earlier on Wednesday and are seen as underdogs after losing the last two series.

"Pietersen will now start a graduated rehabilitation programme with a view to resuming full training by the middle of June," the ECB statement added.

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Cricket-Five uncapped players in Sri Lanka Champions trophy squad

COLOMBO, April 6 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka have named five uncapped players in their provisional 30-man squad for the ICC Champions trophy in England and Wales in June.

The squad includes batsmen Kithuruwan Vithanage, Angelo Perera and Shehan Jayasuriya, fast bowler Ishara Jayaratne and spinner Milinda Siriwardana.

Veteran batsman Mahela Jayawardene, who missed the home series against Bangladesh due to a finger injury, was also selected.

Sri Lanka play their first match of the Champions trophy against New Zealand at Cardiff on June 9. The tournament starts on June 6 with the final scheduled for June 23 at Edgbaston.

Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Angelo Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedara, Thilina Kandamby, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal, Farveez Maharoof, Chamara Welegedara, Ishara Jayaratne, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Malinga Bandara, Seekuge Prasanna, Sachithra Senanayake. (Editing by Alison Wildey)

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Cricket-Australia paceman Pattinson a doubt for Champions Trophy

April 4 (Reuters) - James Pattinson is the latest name to be added to Australia's growing list of Champions Trophy injury doubts with the fast bowler needing abdominal surgery for an existing condition on Friday.

Captain Michael Clarke (lower back) is already facing a race against time to be fit for Australia's defence of the June 6-23 tournament in England, while injury-prone fast bowler Pat Cummins (upper back) appears set miss out completely.

Pattinson, who turns 23 next month, was undergoing the surgery in Melbourne and was expected to return to training in about a month, Cricket Australia (CA) said in a statement on Thursday.

"James Pattinson will be having surgery tomorrow for a non-cricket related medical condition in his lower abdominal region that has been troubling him during the latter part of the recently concluded tour of India," CA chief medical officer Justin Paoloni said.

"James has undergone tests and consulted specialists since returning from India, and it was felt that surgery is absolutely necessary at this time.

"The recovery time will be determined once the surgery is completed but James is expected to return to training in approximately four weeks.

"His preparation for the Ashes is not expected to be affected but his availability for the ICC Champions Trophy will be determined at a later stage."

Australia will remain in England for the Ashes series starting on July 10 with Nottingham's Trent Bridge hosting the first of five tests. (Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by John O'Brien)

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