England must explore contingency plans to cover for Kevin Pietersen in case his sore calf rules him out of their bid to clinch the Ashes at Old Trafford next week.
Alastair Cook’s team are on the verge of winning the urn for a third successive time — something last achieved by England more than 30 years ago — after their 347-run trouncing of Australia at Lord’s on Sunday.
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That resounding success was completed in the absence of the injured Pietersen, off the field during the tourists' second innings after a scan revealed he had strained his left calf.
He is considered doubtful already for the third Investec Test in Manchester. “Clearly it’s a concern. He’s got a tear... sorry, a slight strain of his calf,” said Alastair Cook. “Sorry, that was a bad slip of the tongue — it is a strain. But it is a concern.”u00a0