Barbados: Kevin Pietersen feels as if he is back to his old run-scoring ways but, as far as England are concerned, his presence in the Caribbean is a little less predictable than his form. Pietersen travelled to Guyana on Friday night with the rest of the England side to prepare for tomorrow's opening match against the West Indies.
After that it is only 13 days before the final is held in Barbados. But if England reach the latter stages of the tournament they may well have to cope without Pietersen, who has been given permission to fly home to attend the birth of his first child.
The due date falls in mid-May and Pietersen confirmed he would return to England if he had the call from wife Jessica, regardless of the state of the tournament.
The England management have informally asked if they can fly in a replacement, which has tested the International Cricket Council's views on paternity leave. Sources indicated they could name a replacement but Pietersen would not be able to return.
England, like Pietersen, are playing a waiting game and will be feeling a little more confident following Ravi Bopara's half-century on Wednesday.
