Pietersen unsure of full participation for Ashes

England star-batsman Kevin Pietersen said he may not be able to participate in all of the five Ashes Tests, beginning in England next month, due to a persisting Achilles’ injury.

Kevin Pietersen may have taken England closer to a semi-final berth in the ongoing ICC World Twenty20 2009 by putting up a heroic batting performance to knock out defending champions India, but the master batsman’s services will be equally required next month when England lock horns with old foes Australia in the epoch-making Ashes series.

England will want its best eleven to take the field when the first of five Tests gets underway at Cardiff on July 8 and that will include two strong players who have recently been plagued by injury – star-batsman Kevin Pietersen and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

The last time an Ashes encounter took place in Australia in 2007-08, the home-team won back the coveted urn from England. Pietersen admits that as much as he will be seeking retribution in the Ashes, he may have to sit out for some games due to his persistent Achilles’ problem.

"I'm taking the best medical advice and I'm doing everything I can to be fit to face Australia," Pietersen was quoted as saying to News of the World, adding, “But if my injury flares up just before a Test I won't be able to take part.”

The injury, which has been plaguing Pietersen all summer, is currently being treated by a cortisone injection to the spinal cord to provide temporary relief and speed up the recovery process. However the batsman has just one of these shots remaining.

“I've got one more injection I can have before I'm not allowed any more. That would be cortisone epidural into the spinal cord.”

Pietersen has been taking these injections during the ongoing World Twenty20 which has ensured that England are not without the services of its star-batsman and are in contention for the trophy, in a tournament which is being played in its own backyard.

"The Achilles injury is a nerve problem related to the back but since I had the injection last Friday I have been fine. There is still pain in the heel but I'm doing the right thing to try to eliminate as much pain as I can.”

Complete recovery from such an illness would take up to 16 weeks of rest to heal but Pietersen is clearly determined and focused to keep playing, at least as long as he in a suitable position to do so.

"In order to fix an Achilles injury like this properly I probably do need two or three months out of the game.”

"Unfortunately, that's not going to happen. I'm a man who wants to play every game for England and as much as I can. As long as I can walk I will play.”