Ashley Giles will tomorrow welcome Kevin Pietersen back into the England fold after injury, reminded afresh of the mercurial batsman's match-winning abilities.

It was only while England were falling agonisingly short again on Sunday in a one-day international global tournament final that ex-Hampshire ace Pietersen was emphatically confirming his well-being with a destructive 177 not out on his comeback for Surrey at Headingley.

There was an uncomfortable irony perhaps in the near simultaneous events, but at least England's limited-overs coach Giles can be consoled that Pietersen is due back in his charge for the second of two Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand at The Oval on Thursday.

He will have to get by without him in the first of those matches, at the same venue, tonight - Pietersen was yesterday still in action on the final day of the LV= County Championship match against Yorkshire.

Giles needs no prompting to acknowledge the world-class talents of Pietersen, set to be a key part of England's plans this summer and next winter in the Test format too in back-to-back Ashes series - starting in Nottingham next month.

But he points out too that Joe Root, who has filled Pietersen's role in England's 50-over top four this year and did so too in the narrow Champions Trophy final defeat against India at Edgbaston, has already demonstrated beyond doubt that he is a player for the future.

"Of course, if Kevin is available then I've said time and again he is a world-class player - and he can win us games of cricket," he said. "But there are other guys in the side who can do that too."

The suggestion that Pietersen's absence was the single and simple difference between winning and losing again does not sit easily with the coach.

"That would be wrong to say, because Joe Root probably replaced Kevin in the squad - and he's magnificent.

"He takes to everything he throws his hands at and shows extreme maturity in everything he does.

"He bats, he bowls and he's enthusiastic in the field. He went out to bat and had a big grin on his face as he put his helmet and gloves on. That is what you want, so he's a guy who can take us forward." 

Root, and many other familiar faces who will soon be turning their attention to the Ashes, will be missing from England's two matches against the Kiwis this week. Giles, however, is looking forward to the next challenge in England's hectic summer.

"We've got T20s this week, and Kev comes in for the second game," he added. "It is a new-look squad in some ways, with the Test boys out, so that is exciting."