• England v Australia, 2nd Investec Test, Lord's, 3rd day

Pietersen injury doubt for third Test

Kevin Pietersen failed twice at Lord's © Getty Images

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Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the remainder of the second Ashes Test at Lord's with a calf strain and his involvement in the third Test is now in doubt.

Pietersen injured his calf while fielding on the second day at Lord's and did not warm-up with the England team on the third morning. He underwent a scan on Saturday and will not field again in the Lord's Test.

He will now be assessed before a decision is made on his involvement in the third Test at Old Trafford, which begins August 1.

Pietersen has recently returned to cricket following a three month layoff after bruising his knee on England's tour of New Zealand in March. Pietersen left the tour before the final Test in Auckland and did not return to action until June 21.

So far, Pietersen has had a quiet Ashes series with 85 runs in four innings, including two single figure scores at Lord's. But he did make a composed 64 in the second innings at Trent Bridge which helped swing the tide of the match back to England.

But now, for the second home Ashes in succession, Pietersen's availability is in doubt due to injury. He missed the final three Tests of the 2009 series with an Achilles problem.

There was better news of Eoin Morgan, who broke a finger in the Champions Trophy. He has received the all-clear from England's medical staff and is now expected to return to action for Middlesex imminently. It had been feared Morgan would be out for a far longer period.

In a clear sign that he remains of interest to the England selectors in all formats, Morgan, who holds a central contract, trained with the Test squad at Lord's and faced some throw-downs from the coaching team.

George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo

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