Pietersen 'expected' to be fit for Old Trafford Test

Star England batsman Kevin Pietersen is reportedly expected to be fit for the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford starting on Thursday following the calf injury he sustained at the Lord's Test.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Pietersen has been injury prone for the past few years, which is why James Taylor will almost certainly be named as cover in the squad, which won by 347 runs to go 2-0 up in the series.

The report further said that England's best all-round batsman, who had just recovered from a bruised knee which kept him out for two months, had felt his left calf stiffening while fielding in Australia's first innings at Lord's, and the problem worsened to the point where he did not field in the second innings.

However, the report said that the selectors did not lose hope because of the ten-day gap between Tests and will almost certainly give Pietersen, who has a Test average of 33 in five Tests there and a top score of 68, the day before the Test begins to declare himself fit.

As well as Taylor, England's selectors will be watching Sussex left-armer Monty Panesar as they consider whether to play a second spinner at Old Trafford, the report added.