England batsman Kevin Pietersen was today passed fit to take part in the third Investec Test against Australia at Emirates Old Trafford.
Pietersen's participation was in doubt because of the calf strain which kept him out of the final stages of England's second-Test victory at Lord's.
But after putting the batsman through strenuous fitness tests over the past two days, the hosts named him and resisted any other changes as they bid to wrap up the Ashes in Manchester with an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Australia, who won the toss and unsurprisingly chose to bat first on a warm and sunny morning, made three changes.
Batsman David Warner was back, after his infamous false start to the summer, in place of Phil Hughes - while off-spinner Nathan Lyon replaced Ashton Agar and left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc returned in the absence of the injured James Pattinson.
