ENGLAND FACE an anxious wait for medical reports to determine whether key batsman Kevin Pietersen will be fit to withstand another battle with Australia in next week’s third Ashes Test.
Monday’s historic 115-run victory at Lord’s, their first Ashes win at that venue since 1934, established a 1-0 lead in the npower series with three Tests remaining, but has potentially come at a high price. Hampshire batsman Pietersen struggled throughout that
Test win with a recurrence of Achilles problems and remains the biggest concern for England as they prepare to select their squad this weekend for the third Test at Edgbaston. But England will also check on all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who bowled through the discomfort of a troublesome right knee, while Durham seamer Graham Onions suffered an elbow injury which ruled him out of the attack on the final day at Lord’s.
Flintoff and Onions are expected to be fit enough to feature at Edgbaston, with their recovery aided by a week’s rest, but Pietersen’s chances of participating in Birmingham cannot be assured. “He’s been struggling quite badly with that Achilles injury for quite a period of time,” admitted England coach Andy Flower.
“It’s an uncomfortable injury to have, especially in a Test match. 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.
“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.”
Such is the concern about Pietersen’s injury, England have ordered him to rest and he will be prevented from playing for Hampshire in Saturday’s Friends Provident Trophy final at Lord’s against Sussex. England remain hopeful a week’s rest will be enough for Pietersen to take his place at Edgbaston, but with the fourth Test at Headingley following back-to-back his participation must be in doubt.
Despite the importance of Pietersen and Flintoff to the side, particularly after the Lancastrian’s match-winning display at Lord’s, Flower is determined not to risk either next week if there is any doubt about their fitness.
“Fred obviously had a tough, physical game but chatting to him yesterday afternoon he was very bullish about being ready for the third Test,” said Flower. “With his injury record we have to be a little bit careful about the wear and tear of his body, but he can have a proper rest over the next week and he will also be reassessed.
“We’ve got to take a very simple decision on whether he, like anyone else, is fit enough to contribute fully in a five-day Test match. If he can do that he’ll play and if he can’t, he’ll acknowledge that. He wouldn’t want to let the team down.He’s a world class performer and if he’s out of the side of course that’s a blow, but we’ve got a few fast bowlers waiting in the wings that we know can play international cricket and we know have been successful at this level.”
Onions, recalled to the side for Lord’s as a replacement for second spinner Monty Panesar, is perhaps the least concerning of England’s injured trio after suffering an elbow injury while batting early in the match.
Australia have been formulating plans to revamp and revive their bowling attack – with Brett Lee doubtful and Mitchell Johnson downbeat.
Lee, 32, missed the first two Tests after incurring a side strain earlier in the tour and has not bowled since while Johnson was woefully off colour at Lord’s, where his match figures were three for 200.
Of Lee, coach Tim Nielsen cautiously said: “We just need to make sure we don’t panic and rush him back too quickly with the result being he’s not quite right and puts himself out for the rest of the series.”
Left-armer Johnson, whose batting impressed more than his bowling at Lord’s will spend time with former England bowling coach Troy Cooley in a bid to get his mind and body right for Birmingham.
“Most importantly we need to keep things in perspective,” said Nielsen. “He’s had a brilliant two years, he’s done nothing but improve in every Test since then, we’re not hiding from the fact he didn’t have a brilliant Test here, but he got better as the Test went on, which was pleasing.
