LONDON — Kevin Pietersen is set to give England a pre-Ashes boost by returning for the second and last match of the national team's Twenty20 series against New Zealand this month. The South African-born batsman, who has been out of action since March because of a knee injury, was included in a 14-man squad announced by England Thursday after recently returning to training. The two T20s will be held at The Oval in London, on June 25 and 27. Pietersen will be available for the second T20 provided he completes a four-day English county championship match for Surrey starting Friday. Eoin Morgan will captain England in the series as regular skipper Stuart Broad will be rested, while batsman Gary Ballance and paceman Boyd Rankin — two uncapped players — were also included in a squad lacking most of the country's Ashes contingent and featuring many T20 specialists. If he comes through his county game and then the second T20, Pietersen will also have a four-day Ashes warm-up match against Essex to prove his fitness. Vettori out squad New Zealand cricketer Daniel Vettori has undergone surgery on his left Achilles tendon, ruling him out of the two Twenty20 matches against England later this month. He had only recently returned to the national side after nearly a year out but has looked uncomfortable fielding and dropped down the order to No. 10 against England in the Champions Trophy. Squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Doug Bracewell, Ian Butler, James Franklin, Matin Guptill, Roneel Hira, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Colin Munro, Hamish Rutherford, Ross Taylor. — Agencies
