Pietersen Injured As England Thrashed Again

As defeats go, this was more painful than most. Another horrible day for England ended with an eight-wicket defeat to Australia at the MCG - and Kevin Pietersen out of action for five weeks with a fractured rib.

Pietersen, who top scored for England with 82, walked into a short ball from Glenn McGrath on 73. The bruise that popped up on the right side of his ribcage when physio Dean Conway lifted his shirt suggested serious damage - and a scan soon revealed a fracture.

"I've never been hit so hard that I couldn't breathe for a good while so I knew it was pretty serious," said Pietersen. "As soon as the physio came out, I asked him how long a broken rib took to recover and he said four-to-six weeks.

"I'm really down at the moment, leaving Australia without a victory under my belt. But I will be back in time for the World Cup."

England, who will now have to go through the rest of the Commonwealth Bank ODI series without the world's No2 ranked one-day batsman, will name a replacement within 24 hours.

Michael Vaughan's side went into the triangular tournament intent on improving an atrocious run of just six wins from their previous 25 one-day internationals against Test-class opposition. But their total of 242 for eight never looked good enough from the moment Adam Gilchrist blasted 60 off only 61 balls as Australia's openers put on 101 in 15 overs.

Both Gilchrist and first-wicket partner Matthew Hayden fell to spin in quick succession but Aussie captain Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke showed their class to get the hosts home with 28 balls to spare.

Earlier, England's were indebted to a 91-ball knock of 82 from Pietersen while Andrew Flintoff hit an unbeaten 47 and Paul Collingwood 43 as they recovered from 73-3. But their total was probably at least 50 runs short of what was needed.

Australia play New Zealand in Hobart on Sunday in the second match of the series.