'To leave a winning dressing room is heartbreaking,' says devastated KP

London, July 23 (ANI): Having undergone an Achilles heel surgery here on Wednesday, England's best batsman Kevin Pietersen has said that he is heartbroken about being ruled out of the rest of The Ashes series.

KP will not play for at least six weeks, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is likely to recall Ian Bell for the Npower Third Test against Australia to be played from July 30 at his home ground Edgbaston.

"As an England player, The Ashes is the pinnacle of the game. I'm devastated to miss the rest of the series. To leave a winning dressing room is heartbreaking, but it wouldn't be fair to the team or myself to continue given the severity of the injury," KP was quoted, as saying.

Pietersen has played 54 consecutive Tests since his debut in the 2005 Ashes.

He added: "I'll be supporting the team closely and wish them the best of luck as they look to build on the win at Lord's and reclaim The Ashes."

"I was pleased with the previous treatment as it allowed me to play but unfortunately the injury has deteriorated. I hate missing matches for England and especially during an Ashes summer but I'm confident I can return injury-free following rehabilitation," he said.

ECB chief medical officer Nick Peirce said: "Following consultation with the world's leading Achilles specialist, who flew in from Sweden, Kevin underwent surgery on his right Achilles. The operation involved trimming of the blood vessels and nerves around the tendon and appears to have been routine." (ANI)