Hobart: England's Ashes defense has been clouded by injuries as Kevin Pietersen too joins the list with a knee injury. Wicket keeper Matt Prior could be ruled for 1st test that begins on 21 November in Brisbane, after he pulled up left calf in a tour match Saturday.
Pietersen's injury not only threatens to sideline him from the first Test but could also have ramifications for his entire Ashes campaign.
The star batsman's hopes of playing in the first Test - which begins in Brisbane on November 21 - are hinging on the success of a cortisone injection that forced him to leave the England squad on Sunday.
While his teammates headed to Sydney, Pietersen flew to Melbourne for scans and treatment on a troublesome knee injury which has dogged him for much of the year.
Pietersen missed three months of international action, including a series against New Zealand and the Champions Trophy, and is now in doubt to line up at the Gabba for what would be his 100th Test appearance.
The injury flared again in the lead-up to England's tour game against Australia A last week.
The English are optimistic the injection will help settle the problem but it is far from ideal just over a week out from the start of the Ashes.
At the very least, it will further impede what has already been an interrupted preparation for Pietersen, who made just eight runs in his only innings this tour.
"Kevin has had a slight recurrence of that knee issue, and he'll be going to Melbourne for a scan and a cortisone injection - so he won't be travelling with the rest of the team," said England coach Andy Flower.
Prior appeared to pull up after taking a quick single during his innings of 26 and did not take the field.
He complained of tightness in his left calf, but the seriousness of the problem was unclear on Saturday night.
Curiously, England did not hand the gloves to reserve wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, who was not playing in the tour match, despite receiving permission to do so from Australia A. Instead, young batsman Joe Root took over the keeping duties after making 58 not out at No.5.
Though Prior was below his best with the bat in England's 3-0 Ashes win at home, where he averaged 19, he is a pivotal player for the tourists - a safe pair of hands who can score rapidly at No.
England coach Andy Flower said he was hopeful Prior would be fit for the first Test at the Gabba, but it seems the keeper is no chance to play in Sydney.
"He's a concern. I would suggest he'd be OK for the first Test but I hope I'm not speaking out of turn there," Flower said.
England coach Andy Flower said he was hopeful Prior would be fit for the first Test at the Gabba, but it seems the keeper is no chance to play in Sydney.
"He's a concern. I would suggest he'd be OK for the first Test but I hope I'm not speaking out of turn there," Flower said.
"He'll have a scan", he's tweaked it.
"His experience is very valuable for us, however if he's injured and unavailable Bairstow will step in and he will bring his own qualities to the England team."
