| Player: | KP Pietersen |
DateLine: 14th June 2009
England star middle-order batsman Kevin Pietersen admitted that his troublesome Achilles injury could force him to sit out of the coveted Ashes against Australia.
The swashbuckling batsman, who has had an injury-prone summer because of this problem, is allowed just one more cortisone injection in his spine.
"I'm taking the best medical advice and I'm doing everything I can to face Australia but, occasionally, Achilles injuries do flare up.
"If that happens on the morning of a Test then I wouldn't be able to take part," Pietersen told the News of the World.
"I can promise you I am doing everything in my power to make sure I am OK. 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.
"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.
"In order to fix an Achilles injury like this properly I probably do need two or three months out of the game,” he added.