Pietersen sweating - and so are England

The Hampshire batsman was in bed with a high temperature while his team-mates prepared for a Test they must win to prevent India becoming the first side since Australia in 2001 to win a Test series in England.

Pietersen has not missed a Test since making his debut against Australia at Lord's two years ago, averaging 52 from his 29 appearances, and will be crucial to England's hopes of levelling the series with victory at the Brit Oval.

He has been given a course of antibiotics and will be assessed on Wednesday morning, although England have resisted the temptation to call up another batsman on standby.

His absence from practice today continued England's week of misfortune after there were considerable recriminations about the behaviour of both sides during the stormy second Test at Trent Bridge, which India won by seven wickets.

England were criticised for attempting to unsettle Zaheer Khan at the crease by placing jelly beans on the wicket and David Morgan, the England and Wales Cricket Board's chairman, has spelt out in the programme notes for this week's final Test the need to improve their behaviour.

Opener Andrew Strauss admitted: "We haven't tried to pay too much attention on it - these things can become distractions which can prevent you playing your best cricket.

"At the same time, the fact there's been such a strong reaction suggests we need to look at how we play our cricket and make sure we're not over-stepping any marks.

"We all recognise that in international cricket it's important we play with intensity and with controlled aggression because that's how you win Test matches, but there's also a line there and we have that responsibility to club cricketers and young cricketers not to cross that line.

"We recognise that but I don't think you'll see a massive change to how we play this week because it's important we do play with that aggression, but it's going to be important we don't cross any lines during the next five days."