Kevin Pietersen is to have a scan and cortisone injection in his problematic right knee.
The England batsman has been feeling fresh discomfort in the old injury less than two weeks before the start of the Ashes.
England coach Andy Flower revealed injury worries about two pivotal players Matt Prior is the other, and will have a scan on his left calf at the end of the tourists’ rain-wrecked draw against Australia A in Hobart.
Pietersen’s previous problems in his knee, however, mean there are sure to be heightened concerns about his fitness in particular for the Ashes opener in Brisbane on November 21 a match which should be the mercurial batsman’s 100th Test.
First, though, the 33-year-old will leave his team-mates as they travel to Sydney today for their final warm-up match and fly instead to Melbourne for urgent medical treatment and a prognosis.
“Kevin has had a slight recurrence of that knee issue, and he’ll be going to Melbourne for a scan and cortisone injection tomorrow (Sunday) so he won’t be travelling with the rest of the team,” said Flower.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a huge issue. He’s had a couple of these injections before, and they’ve been successful.”
England still hope, in fact, that Pietersen who could make only eight in his first innings of the winter yesterday as England declared on 430 for seven will be fit for their match against an Australian Invitational XI at the SCG.
“We anticipate him playing in the Sydney game,” the coach added.
There appears to be some anxiety over Prior, a pivotal mainstay in England’s last three successful Ashes series and Alastair Cook’s vice-captain too.
Flower said: “He is a concern. He’s tweaked something in his calf. We’re not sure of the extent of the injury as yet he will obviously need a scan.”
The coach was heartened that Prior had little time to exacerbate the injury suffered while batting with Joe Root (58no) because he was out very soon after first feeling discomfort.
“He didn’t make it much worse he was off soon after he tweaked it,” he said.
“As soon as we know more about it, we’ll tell you. He’ll go for a scan pretty much as soon as possible.”
There is hope rather than definite expectation about Prior’s recovery.
“I don’t think it’s anything too serious, and shouldn’t keep him out of the first Test,” said Flower.
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