Image courtesy of: The Guardian

Pietersen has not made much of an impact during the first two Tests

Flamboyant England batsman Kevin Pietersen’s chances of playing in the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, remain in doubt after he sustained a calf injury during the second Test at Lord’s.

Pietersen suffered the injury on the second day of the second Test and went for a scan as well.

The South African-born batsman recently returned after spending three months on the sidelines with bruising in his knee.

Pietersen first injured his knee during England’s tour of New Zealand in March and did not return to action until June 21.

The explosive batsman has not made much of an impact during the first two Tests, scoring 85 runs in the first four innings, but he did help England with a brilliant 64 in the second innings of the first Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

Pietersen has had injury woes in previous Ashes series, especially in 2009 when he was forced to miss the last three Tests with an Achilles injury.

The third Test gets underway on August 1.