Kevin Pietersen did his best to allay concerns over his troublesome Achilles injury ahead of the Ashes by declaring himself "practically 100 per cent fit". The former England captain is widely regarded as crucial to the home side's hopes of regaining the Ashes from Australia.
Former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne, who was Pietersen's county captain at Hampshire, went even further by saying on Wednesday that England had no chance without the South Africa born star batsman.
"The one person England have to have is Kevin Pietersen," said Warne, who retired from Test cricket after Australia's thumping 5-0 Ashes series win on home soil in 2006-07.
"If England haven't got Pietersen I don't believe they can win. He's just a wonderful player."
Pietersen warned recently that if his injury, which was originally sustained during England's tour of the Caribbean earlier this year, flared up on the morning of a Test he would be ruled out.
But, speaking to Sky Sports on Thursday, he said: "I am nursing my injury at the moment, getting myself right. I'm practically 100 per cent fit so I don't want any setbacks.
"It's real good news, I've been rehabbing every single day since the injury. The last couple of weeks I've done quite a lot of work so, fingers crossed, I am going to be pretty good for the whole summer."
{{/usCountry}}"It's real good news, I've been rehabbing every single day since the injury. The last couple of weeks I've done quite a lot of work so, fingers crossed, I am going to be pretty good for the whole summer."
{{/usCountry}}