Pietersen joins Prior on England injury list

Batsman Kevin Pietersen has joined wicketkeeper Matt Prior on England's injury list 11 days out from the first Ashes Test against Australia with a recurrent right knee injury.

Kevin Pietersen has joined wicketkeeper Matt Prior on England's injury list 11 days out from the first Ashes test against Australia.

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England coach Andy Flower said on Sunday that Pietersen will have a scan and cortisone injection in his oft-injured right knee following discomfort after batting in the rain-affected drawn tour match against Australia A which ended on Saturday.

Pietersen, who could play his 100th test in the first of five Ashes matches beginning on November 21 at Brisbane, was out for three months this year with the same injury.

Prior could not keep wicket after injuring his left calf in the same match, and will also have scans.

"Kevin has had a slight reoccurrence 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," Flower said.

England plays an Australian Invitational XI at the Sydney Cricket Ground from Wednesday in its final warm-up.

"I don't think it's going to be a huge issue," Flower added. "He's had a couple of these injections before, and they've been successful. They've quietened the problem down, and it's obviously an ongoing issue for him. We anticipate him playing in the Sydney game."

Pietersen has been doing extra gym sessions trying to strengthen the knee, after he first damaged it on England's tour of New Zealand this year, forcing him to return home early.