Pietersen, Prior send dual injury scares through England camp ahead of Ashes

Star England batsman Kevin Pietersen and vice-captain Matt Prior have reportedly sent double injury scares into the English camp just eleven days before the first Test of the return Ashes series starts at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 21.

Pietersen is to have a cortisone injection in his troublesome right knee after he left the squad for emergency treatment, while wicketkeeper and vice captain Prior is also due for a scan on a tight left calf, which prevented him from taking the field on the final day of their rain-ruined game against Australia A at Hobart.

According to Sport24, although the England and the Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is confident that the injection will allow Pietersen to play as he has before, there is a risk he could miss even more cricket in a year in which he was sidelined for the entire New Zealand series and the Champions Trophy with the problem.

The report mentioned that the inflammation has caused some serious discomfort to Pietersen, who is on the cusp of his 100th Test, adding that Prior felt his calf go during an innings of 26 in the draw in Hobart, leaving Joe Root to stand in as keeper.

But, unlike Pietersen, England team director Andy Flower admitted that Prior is a concern, adding that Jonny Bairstow will get the nod in Brisbane should Prior's injury be more serious than feared.