LONDON, (Reuters) – England batsman Kevin Pietersen will visit medical specialists this week to assess if he will be fit for the third Ashes test against Australia starting at Edgbaston in Birmingham on July 30.
Coach Andy Flower told the England and Wales Cricket Board website yesterday (www.ecb.co.uk) that Pietersen had been struggling with an Achilles tendon injury which required four cortisone injections before the Lord’s test. England won by 115 runs on Monday to go 1-0 ahead in the five-match series. “It’s an uncomfortable injury to have, especially in a test match,” Flower said. “You’re always on your feet, if you bat for any period of time you’re scampering between the wickets and you feel it all the time. There’s no getting away from it.
“He’s going to be re-assessed later this week. He’s got a couple of people he’s going to be talking to and then the experts will make a decision on whether he’s okay or not.”
England will wait for medical bulletins on Pietersen, all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and pace bowler Graham Onions before naming their squad at the weekend.
Flintoff, who bowled England to victory at Lord’s on Monday, had an injection on his right knee before the match. He said afterwards he was confident he would play a full part in the three remaining matches of his final test series.
