Kevin Pietersen EXCLUSIVE

KEVIN PIETERSEN has told of the full extent of his agonising Achilles injury and admitted: It's ruining my summer.

England's star batsman has hobbled his way through the first two Ashes Tests and fears the problem could rule him out at some stage this summer.

The usually free-flowing stroke- maker struggled for fluency yesterday in his knock of 44 off 101 deliveries.

KP has now endured FOUR injections in a bid to get him through the biggest series of all.

He had a second cortisone jab in his spine before the opening npower Test in Cardiff and has also had two directly into the right heel affected by the inflamed nerve in his back.

KP was heavily criticised for the loose shot that led to his dismissal in England's first innings at Sophia Gardens - despite him top-scoring with a patient 69.

But the 29-year-old's batting form has been hindered by the injury that first flared up in the West Indies in April. And the problem refuses to go away.

Pietersen said: "To be honest it plays on my mind all day and every day. People who have had injuries know that it definitely does affect the way they play.

"It doesn't really affect my stroke play but running between wickets and diving around is problematic.

"This is the first injury I have had and, mentally, they really do get to you. I've had two injections into my back - a perineural and an epidural. And I've had a cortisone and a homeopathic injection into my Achilles.

"We're not talking about anything in the future, we're just managing it right now. We are treating it on a day-to-day basis just to get me out on to the pitch. It's incredibly frustrating."

Forced

Pietersen was forced off the field for 11 overs of Australia's first innings on Friday.

He added: "I had a bad day on Friday. Right now, it's just a case of getting through the match and making sure I get myself right because there's a 10-day break at the end which will give me a chance to rest up.

"I'm not ruling anything out in terms of the rest of the series. What I will say is I am doing everything I can to get myself right. I'll do anything I can do to play."

Pietersen's injury has helped him empathise with injury-ravaged all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

England's talisman has announced he will retire from Test cricket at the end of the series after growing tired of his near-constant battle with injury.

KP said: "Since 2005, Fred's had two years of rehab. I've only had two or three months of it and it really, really gets you down in the dumps.

"I've been fortunate to have been able to carry on playing through it and playing in an amazing series, whereas Fred didn't play at all.

"It must have been very frustrating - so fair play to the guy.

"He's back and he's firing and bowling as quick as anybody in the world. He bowled with some serious heat on Friday and reminded us what we'll be missing. It'll be sad not to see him in Tests again after this series. He's been fantastic for England."

KP believes the Three Lions attack has shown its true colours in this Test. He added: "We all said that as soon as the ball starts swinging Jimmy Anderson would be a real force to be reckoned with. He's shown how good he can be.

"The guys are pulling together brilliantly and showing everyone we are really up for this fight."

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