It leaves Laurent Koscielny and Sebastian Squillaci as the Gunners' only fit senior central defenders, with Thomas Vermaelen still out because of an Achillestendonproblem.
England took a calculated gamble by recalling Pietersen, who has been troubled by an Achillestendonproblem, and he admitted afterwards that he was only "about 70% fit".
The team will be again be led by Ricky Ponting, who missed the recent series against Bangladesh after undergoing a wrist operation and opener Matthew Hayden has been included despite a persistent Achillestendonproblem.