Achilles problem may return to haunt KP during Ashes

London:

Star England batsman Kevin Pietersen has revealed that the Achilles injury he has been carrying for some time may flare up any time and there are no guarantees that he will play in all the Ashes Tests.

He said he has been taking cortisone injection to reduce the pain and may need another injection into his spine before the Ashes.

"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," he said.

Pietersen missed last week's Twenty20 World Cup defeat by the Netherlands as he was unable to walk on the morning of the game. He underwent a new procedure known as a perineural injection into the nerve in his spine which allowed him to play England's subsequent matches in the tournament.

"I can promise 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 a 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," Pietersen was quoted as saying by 'News of the World'.

Pietersen said he hates sitting out of England matches and would be ready to play even if not fully fit.

"In order to fix an Achilles injury like this properly I probably do need two or three months out of the game. I'm a man who wants to play every game for England and as much as I can. As long as I can walk I will play."