It leaves Laurent Koscielny and Sebastian Squillaci as the Gunners' only fit senior central defenders, with Thomas Vermaelen still out because of an Achilles tendon problem.

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England took a calculated gamble by recalling Pietersen, who has been troubled by an Achilles tendon problem, and he admitted afterwards that he was only "about 70% fit".

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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 Achilles tendon problem.

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