Ashes 2013: Kevin Pietersen ruled out of the rest of second Test putting Old Trafford participation into question

Batsman could miss third Test which gets underway on August 1 after he suffers a calf strain

Kevin Pietersen is a doubt for the third Investec Ashes Test after being ruled out for the remainder of the current match at Lord's with a calf strain.

Pietersen was not needed on the pitch today having been dismissed on day two and was instead sent for a scan which revealed a strain in his left calf.

He will not be fit to take part when England take to the field for Australia's second innings and his participation in the next match at Old Trafford on August 1 is up in the air.

An England and Wales Cricket Board statement read: "Kevin Pietersen will not take the field for the remainder of the second Test after scans today showed a left calf strain. He will continue to be monitored and will be assessed ahead of the third Test."

Pietersen has missed three of England's last five Tests, with a knee injury ruling him out of the decider in New Zealand as well as the two-match return series on these shores.

But England would face a quandary should their mercurial number four be unavailable in Manchester.

When he was absent earlier this year, Jonny Bairstow came into the side in his place.

But since then England have retained Bairstow, dispensed with Nick Compton and moved Joe Root to the head of the innings.

Root's 178 not out today means he is unlikely to be shifted from that position, leaving a swift recall for Compton less likely, though not impossible given the other candidates.

Eoin Morgan has fallen out of favour at Test level recently, Ravi Bopara has been short of full fitness and a call for the uncapped Gary Ballance would be a sizeable risk.

For Pietersen, it could be a case of history repeating itself after an Achilles injury flared up during the Lord's Test against Australia in 2009 and he was ruled out of the last three matches of the series.

PA