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This is an archive article published on August 1, 2013

KP all but certain for Old Trafford

England batsman Kevin Pietersen looks poised to play in the third Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford from Thursday after recovering from a calf injury

England batsman Kevin Pietersen looks poised to play in the third Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford from Thursday after recovering from a calf injury. Pietersen has been struggling since the second Test at Lords but batted in the indoor nets for almost an hour on Wednesday and then had a short fitness test on the soggy outfield,with strapping filled with a liquid visible on his leg.

Pretty good, captain Alastair Cook said when asked about the chances of Pietersen playing. He has gone through training the last two days and done everything we asked of him. Fingers crossed.

England will wait to see how their most explosive batsman reacts to the fitness test before naming their team at the toss on Thursday. James Taylor,who has two caps and scored an unbeaten century against Australia for Sussex in last weeks tour match,has been included in the squad in case Pietersen is ruled out.

Pietersen barely contributed in the first two Tests yet England still edged the tourists by 14 runs at Trent Bridge before humiliating Michael Clarkes men by 347 runs at Lords to inflict a sixth straight test loss on Australia.

Meanwhile,Australias lineup is much more uncertain with aggressive batsman David Warner hoping to play after scoring a century for Australia A against South Africa A.

 

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