Pietersen to miss domestic Twenty20 finals to rest injury ahead of fifth Ashes Test

England player Kevin Pietersen will not play for Surrey in the Twenty20 finals day of the Friends Life T20 this weekend, after being told to rest his troublesome calf before next week's fifth Test at The Oval.

According to The Guardian, Pietersen was hoping to make a rare county appearance but Andy Flower, the England team director, has told him to rest the calf problem that has been troubling him since the second Test at Lord's.

England have underlined their determination to make history at The Oval next week by completing a first-ever 4-0 series victory against Australia, refusing Kevin Pietersen permission to play for Surrey in the finals day this weekend, the report said.

England will name their squad on Saturday, whereas Australia head to Northampton for a two-day match against the England Lions starting on Friday, with their coach Darren Lehmann warning his under-performing batsmen that they are running out of time to deliver, the report added.