CRICKET:ENGLAND CAPTAIN Paul Collingwood believes Kevin Pietersen will be ready for this afternoon's World Twenty20 semi-final clash against Sri Lanka despite having just 20 hours to reacclimatise to Caribbean conditions.

Pietersen’s wife gave birth to a baby boy on Monday morning, two days after he flew from Barbados to London to be present.

He missed the Super Eights victory against New Zealand but has returned for today’s clash at Beausejour Stadium.

And Collingwood has no qualms about compromised preparation or jet-lag issues, confident Pietersen will be so invigorated at becoming a father for the first time that his game head will be well and truly on against Sri Lanka.

“In this form of the game especially, your frame of mind is the crucial thing,” Collingwood.

“He’s going to be in a great frame of mind. He’s just had a baby boy; he’ll be a happy man; he’s had a little bit of a break, and it might do him the world of good just to come straight back into it.

“There’s nothing technical he has to change. It’s just his mindset, and I’m sure his mind is 100 per cent right. He’ll be a happy man, and raring to go.”

Pietersen’s absence from the New Zealand game has allowed former Ireland batsman Eoin Morgan jump ahead of him as top England run-scorer in the tournament thanks to his knock of 40 against the Black Caps.

The 23-year-old Dubliner has hit 166 runs at an average of 33, seven ahead of Pietersen, and is living up to his reputation as a cool-headed finisher in the English middle order.

Another former Ireland star was in the runs yesterday as Ed Joyce made a successful return to the Sussex first XI following a hip operation, scoring an undefeated 135 against Cambridge University at Fenner’s.