London, Dec 18 : England skipper Kevin Pietersen, who is suffering from broken rib injury, has said that he cannot bat, bowl, field or throw without pain.

But England's injured captain must somehow rouse his players into a Second Test performance here tomorrow that can halt their miserable start to the winter, The Sun reported.

Pietersen hurt himself more than three weeks ago when his bottom right rib was broken against his hip bone as he stretched to hit a squash ball. He aggravated the injury while practising and remains in constant discomfort.

"It does affect me. Diving in the field definitely doesn't help it and I can hardly chuck the ball. I would have loved to bowl the other day on that pitch in Chennai, but couldn't. And playing expansive shots such as hitting the ball over the top makes it quite sore," Pietersen said.

"There's nothing that can be done - I just have to play with it and rest when I get home."

Pietersen has never been known to underplay an injury but it is clear he is being significantly inconvenienced by the rib problem.

Yet the physical pain will be nothing compared to the anguish Pietersen will suffer if they lose to India again.

Pietersen insisted: "The boys are raring to go again. We want to finish the year on a positive. Losing in Chennai was a bitter pill to swallow but at least we got closer than many people thought against this strong Indian side." (ANI)