HAMPSHIRE'S Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of England's Natwest one-day series against the West Indies due to an Achilles injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board have confirmed.

England's best batsman suffered the injury during the second Test victory at Chester-le-Street and was ruled out of the remainder of the series after training today, just 24 hours before the opening match at Headingley.

The injury gives Pietersen just two weeks to recover before the start of England's ICC World Twenty20 campaign, which has already been undermined with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff struggling to recover from a recent knee operation in time for the start of the tournament.

Pietersen will undertake a period of rest and treatment on the right Achilles injury, but England are hopeful he will recover to play a full part in their World Twenty20 campaign.

Nick Peirce, the England and Wales Cricket Board's chief medical officer, explained: ''The injury would not necessarily prevent him from playing.

''But by giving him a precautionary period of time out to receive some concentrated treatment and rest we are enabling the niggle to settle down in preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 and the Ashes. This is not an injury that would preclude him from participating in either event.''

Pietersen, who has not missed a one-day international for England since suffering a rib injury in Australia two years ago, confirmed: ''The medical advice is to rest the Achilles.

''Although I'm frustrated to be leaving a happy and successful dressing room, I'm absolutely confident this will help me overcome what has up until now been a minor ongoing injury.

''I hate missing out on playing for England but understand that in this instance it's necessary in order to overcome the injury.

''Even though I won't be lining up for England during this series I'll be watching and supporting the team closely as they set about repeating the recent one-day series win in the Caribbean.

''I'm looking forward to being back in the England line-up for the World Twenty20 and the rest of an exciting summer of cricket.''

England have decided not to call up a replacement into their squad for the series with uncapped Middlesex batsman Eoin Morgan and Ian Bell battling it out to replace Pietersen in tomorrow's opener.