Ashes 2013: James Anderson hopeful that Kevin Pietersen will be fit for third Test in his recovery from a calf strain
The batsman was forced out of the remainder of the second Test but Anderson is keeping his fingers crossed that he will be fit for the Old Trafford clash next week
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Your support makes all the difference.England bowler James Anderson has spoken on the injury that could rule Kevin Pietersen out of the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford next week.
Pietersen picked up a calf strain on the third day of the second Test at Lords, meaning he could take no part in the fourth and final day’s play as England secured a 2-0 lead in the series with a 437-run victory.
The batsman gave his Twitter followers an update on his condition yesterday, saying he was “stuck on a sofa tightly fastened to an ice machine” in an effort to be fit for the potentially series deciding match.
Anderson, who is the leading wicket-taker in the series alongside Graeme Swann on 13, has said: “As far as I know it was a strain so we'll keep our fingers crossed that he'll be fine for the Old Trafford Test.
"For him more than most, the next 10 days will be crucial, a lot of rehab and trying to get himself fit for next week - which we're all hoping he will be."
The 30-year-old will celebrate his birthday the day before the third Test gets underway, and he has also spoken on the latest player to hit the cricketing headlines Joe Root, who is eight years Anderson’s junior.
"He's been amazing," said Anderson of the 22-year-old Yorkshireman who made 180 in his second innings at Lords.
"There's a lot of pressure on this series and for someone so young to take it in his stride, it's a great credit to him - he seems to thrive off it, almost.
"The way he has dealt with it will stand him in good stead for the future and I'm sure he's got a big future ahead of him."
Root wasn’t the only name to get up on the honours board at the home of English cricket, as Swann took five wickets for 44 runs to claim his 16 five-wicket-haul.
Anderson is confident that the reverse swing which has made him such a danger in the series so far will continue on his home track in Manchester, and he also believes that there will be enough in the pitch for Swann to continue his spin attack.
"I can't imagine it'll be too different from what we've had in the first two games, so Swanny should be involved at some point," he said.
"Reverse swing is very common at Old Trafford and it's very dry, with the weather we've been having, so I imagine that's the same at the moment.
"Obviously I'm delighted to be playing at my home ground, very excited about it.
"I've never played an Ashes Test there, I've not played a Test there for maybe three or four years. All my friends and family will be there watching so I can't wait."
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