Future gloomy for KP.

KEVIN PIETERSEN'S summer has taken another frustrating turn after complications in his recovery from ankle surgery put his participation in the Twenty20 and one-day clashes with Australia which follow the Ashes series in doubt.

An Achilles operation has forced the former national team captain to sit out the rest of the Test series after limping through the second Test at Lord's, and now an infection in the scar tissue left by the surgery has set him back further.

Pietersen had been included in England's initial squad for the NatWest Series of seven one-day internationals.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that there has been a worrying turn of events and have since released a statement, updating the likely prognosis for one of their premier match-winners.

"Kevin Pietersen was seen by a wound care specialist and will receive a course of antibiotics in order to exclude infection," said the statement.

Pietersen and England will have to wait until next week to find out the likely repercussions of the setback, in terms of a revised recovery period.

"Medical advice is that a complication can occur post surgery and in this case resulted despite Kevin closely following specialist advice on management of the wound," the statement continued.

"He will be reassessed by the specialist later this week."