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Ashes 2013: Kevin Pietersen could miss third Test because of injury

Last updated on .From the section Cricketcomments182

Kevin Pietersen

England batting coach Graham Gooch admits the injured Kevin Pietersen may miss the third Ashes Test as well as the remainder of the second.

Pietersen had a scan on Saturday which revealed he has a left calf strain, and will not take the field as England look to go 2-0 up in the series at Lords.

Gooch said: "Kevin has got a small strain in his calf and there's a doubt over his selection for the next Test.

"James Taylor's having a good year. The selectors will look at the options."

Nottinghamshire's Taylor, 23, played two Tests against South Africa last year, scoring 48 runs in three innings.

James Taylor
Nottinghamshire's James Taylor could replace Kevin Pietersen for the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford

This season he has scored 824 runs in 15 Championship innings at an average of 58, with two centuries and four fifties, and a best of 204 not out against Sussex in June.

Gooch told the BBC's Test Match Special: "They also have to look at the conditions at Old Trafford. Once you decide what the pitch is like you decide who the replacement will be.

"Spinners are flourishing in this sort of weather so I think once you decide what the pitch is going to be like you'll decide who the replacement will be if Kevin is not fit, but there are plenty of good young batsmen around."

Pietersen suffered the injury while fielding in Australia's first innings on Friday and looked uncomfortable when he went out to bat later in the day.

He made only five runs before reaching away from his body and hitting bowler Peter Siddle to point.

It is only Pietersen's second Test since recovering from a knee problem that forced him to return early from the New Zealand tour in March.

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182 comments

  • Comment posted by U15545721, at 13:07 21 Jul 2013

    Let's just play with 10 - even things up a bit.

  • Comment posted by Napoleon, at 13:06 21 Jul 2013

    What's the point of bringing Compton back? Where would you play him? Much better getting one of the younger lads in there like Taylor. Perfect time for them to come in against this Aussie side. Look to the future now whilst we have the chance.

  • Comment posted by mobilemole, at 13:16 21 Jul 2013

    given the current state of Australian cricket, we only need 10 players anyway

  • Comment posted by RB1000, at 15:56 21 Jul 2013

    38. Yeah its gone really badly hasn't it? 22 test centuries is disgraceful. Like Wally Hammond, Pietersen should hang his head in shame oh and Boycott too. Then there was winning the T20 WC cup and being player of the tournament. Oh and winning the Ashes for the first time in 18 years. Nice bloke? Probably not but rather watch him bat than anyone else in the team.

  • Comment posted by PaulDC, at 13:05 21 Jul 2013

    He's not on top form so not as big a loss as in previous tests but the way the Aussie's are playing I could be in the 11 and England would still win.

  • Comment posted by Mike, at 17:42 21 Jul 2013

    @68. jack
    The one thing that bugs me about the Ashes is that you get so many comments from people who don't watch cricket outside of a 4 year cycle. Did you watch the India series? KP's knock there. Ashes last series in Australia? 227. He has the 9th highest average of any England player to have played 20 tests or more. Anyone who calls for him to be dropped genuinely doesn't understand cricket.

  • Comment posted by U6790938, at 17:00 21 Jul 2013

    I reckon taylor has done enough to justify a call up, while the aussies are this bad we should be looking to the future, and blood some younger prospects. Compton at thirty should have been well into his international career by now if it was going to happen, it hasn't.

  • Comment posted by U15549952, at 13:40 21 Jul 2013

    Poor FIGJAM, totally upstaged by Root n Bell! Still, opportunity for the selectors to take a look at a bat for the winter. Perhaps a promising 15/16 year old to even things up a little....

  • Comment posted by AndSleep, at 13:23 21 Jul 2013

    Not so long ago this would have been a major worry but this seems to be a poor Aussie team and therefore an excellent opportunity to blood another young player. Agree that Taylor deserves another chance based on form.

    Surprised by comments that Pieterson is surplus to requirements. Some folk on here have hugely selective memories I reckon!

  • Comment posted by Mak, at 13:22 21 Jul 2013

    I think this might be blessing in disguise. KP had not enough test cricket since his return and selectors are rather reluctant not to pick him.

    We can now choose extra in-form batman or extra bowler if they choose to.

  • Comment posted by U15586449, at 13:11 21 Jul 2013

    Pietersen has contributed in both tests but you can see he is not on top of his game. Taylor would be the obvious choice given his current form.

  • Comment posted by U14550695, at 11:16 22 Jul 2013

    Let's look at the facts: England won the 1st Test by 14 runs. KP scored 14 runs in the first innings, therefore KP won the match!

  • Comment posted by Mike, at 18:31 21 Jul 2013

    @ Rob 78
    Of course stats are relevant. "You're only as good as your last performance" is nonsense. That's exactly the attitude of England in the '90s where players would be dropped after 1 or 2 bad games and England were rubbish because of it. England have become a very good team because they've trusted top class players to come good, even if they have a few bad knocks.

  • Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 13:18 21 Jul 2013

    I don't think we'll miss KP much. To be honest we could probably pick a bag of KP nuts at 4 and we would still win the next test...

    On a serious note i'd give Taylor a chance.

  • Comment posted by Napoleon, at 13:17 21 Jul 2013

    I agree with bringing Taylor or one of the other young players in. KP isn't going to last forever and he seems to be more injury prone these days. What about Gary Ballance? Is he eligible to play for England yet? He has an excellent first class average. Look to the future now against a weak Aussie side.

  • Comment posted by U5331635, at 22:22 21 Jul 2013

    Given the scoreline, this is an opportunity to blood whoever is being groomed to replace KP long-term. I assume that is Taylor.
    Wright / Bopara / Compton justifiable were England struggling but that's clearly not the case.
    KP straight back in when fit though. Calls for him to be replaced permanently are ridiculously premature. Faith in batting line-up since 2009 has been key for England.

  • Comment posted by Stephen Marsh, at 19:46 21 Jul 2013

    Some very silly comments here from armchair experts with very short memories who are also poor judges of ability and character..

  • Comment posted by dexio13, at 19:32 21 Jul 2013

    Looks to be between Compton or Taylor for vacant no. 4 spot. Would leave Bell where he is. The main reason Compton had the bad trot was the pressure he was putting on himself. He may well prosper this time around.

  • Comment posted by EarlsfieldOwl, at 16:45 21 Jul 2013

    #44 not writing him off and Id rather have him in than out, but he is getting on a bit and with younger players around knocking on the door, he hasn't got a huge amount time left.

    Also, with England's top order not firing, the margin for error is smaller than it once was and he will need to knuckle down a bit more and convert a few more starts

  • Comment posted by U15794859, at 16:35 21 Jul 2013

    Has englands cupboard ever been so full. Anyone remember the dark old days, rob key, John Crawley, mark ealham... Lets enjoy our moment of smugness.. I'd suggest this is as good a time to be an England cricket fan as there has been in living memory. Credit must go to powers that be. We have created a youth system that works, and in that respect are the envy of cricketing world. F.A. Take note.

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